KABUL (SW): An official letter by the Ministry of Interior (MoI) calling for formation of an anti-riot unit comprising of all ethnicities except the Tajiks has caused an uproar.
The leaked document sent out by Col. Abdul Muftah Farogh, commander of the Afghan Public Protection Forces (APPF), allegedly called on officials to send him a list of names of at least 500 anti-riot officers who were of Hazara, Pashtun, Uzbek and other ethnicities – except Tajiks.
Social media users have pronounced this as ‘unjust and discriminative’. A number of Wolesi Jirga (lower house) members also expressed annoyance towards it. Arif Rehmani, a member of the house, said this letter by the APPF is discriminative, and the matter should be investigated seriously.
Humayoun Humayoun, deputy speaker, said if the government has directed such an action it has committed ‘national treason’. He added whoever is indulging in such discrimination should be referred to the judiciary, and if the President has directed such a thing, and there is proof for it, he would be considered ‘national traitor’.
The deputy speaker went on to say proper legislation should be done against ethnic discrimination in Afghanistan so that legal actions can be taken against culprits.
Meanwhile, the MoI has clarified the matter by labelling it as a mistake. It has stated in a statement that since there is a significant number of Tajik officers in the APPF, the balance should be created by prioritizing other ethnicities as well. The dubious letter has stated: “On the directives of the respected office of the President, a 500 men anti-riot unit within the formation of the Commandment of 101-Kabul zone shall be formed. It is directed that the list of identities of the officers comprising of Hazara, Uzbek, Pashton and other ethnicities except of Tajis be formed in 24 hours and emailed”.
This has emerged as a similar dubious letter of ethnic discrimination was leaked on the Telegram from the Administrative Affairs Office a while ago.
ENDS
