*Sar-e-Pul Education Under the Shadow of Religious Discrimination; Merit Versus Religious Affiliation*

*Sar-e-Pul Education Under the Shadow of Religious Discrimination; Merit Versus Religious Affiliation*

Sar-e-Pul - Special Report

Reports received from the Sar-e-Pul Education Department have raised serious concerns about the recruitment process and treatment of educated youth in departments under Taliban rule; concerns that, if confirmed, would indicate the influence of religious and ethnic affiliations on the recruitment process.

According to information received, an educated Hazara and Shia youth participated in the competition for one of the Sar-e-Pul Education Department positions and, having obtained excellent grades, was among the successful candidates; however, in the final stage, his employment agreement was not issued.

A direct witness, who did not want to be named due to security concerns, said that when the young man approached the Education Department, Maulvi Rahmatullah Jaber, the head of Sar-e-Pul Education Department, instead of focusing on his grades and professional qualifications, talked about his religion and said:

“I don’t understand why you Shias are looking for jobs? It is enough that there are a few of you in the government.”

According to the witness, there was also talk of increasing the presence of Hanafi followers in the administrative structure, and it was argued that due to the large number of Hanafi followers, their presence in the department should be increased.

After this encounter, according to the witness, the young man’s employment agreement was not issued and he left the Education Department without receiving the expected results.

Merit or religious affiliation?

If this narrative is confirmed, this incident would be a worrying example of the impact of religious affiliation on job opportunities; a situation that could undermine the principle of meritocracy.

A young person who has worked hard to study, participated in an official competition, and achieved the desired score expects to be evaluated based on his expertise and ability, not on religion or ethnicity.

This issue is even more important in the Education Department; an institution that is directly related to the education and future of the young generation of Afghanistan and should be a symbol of justice, expertise, and equality.

Beyond a Job Case

The Sar-e-Pul case, if true, is not just about one position or one individual; it raises serious questions about employment justice and equal treatment of citizens.

When religion or ethnicity can override the results of exams and qualifications at the final stage of recruitment, the motivation of young people to study and compete in a healthy way is damaged, and public trust in administrative processes is reduced.

The identity of the witness in this report is being withheld due to security concerns. This report is based on the account of an individual who says he was personally present at the scene and observed the event firsthand.

Discrimination, by any name and by anyone, is discrimination. A government agency can gain public trust when it provides job opportunities to citizens based on merit, expertise, and fair criteria, not based on religious or ethnic affiliation.