Minorities | ACW | 26 October 2026 — Several students at state universities in northern Afghanistan have told the Etilaatroz daily that their lack of a beard, their haircuts, and their ethnicity and religion kept them out of free state dormitories, forcing them to abandon their studies.

In a report published on Monday, 26 October 2026, Etilaatroz quoted three students, using pseudonyms, who said dormitory officials turned down their applications. One student, an Uzbek, said he was told his appearance did not meet the "standards" of the Taliban caretaker government and that dorm places were reserved for those with long beards. After about two weeks, unable to pay 3,000 afghanis a month for private housing, he left the university.

Another student, who is Hazara and Shia, said officials asked about his ethnicity and faith after seeing his ID card, and told him that because he is not a Hanafi Sunni his presence in the dorm could cause "tension". He said students at that university were made to sign a pledge stressing adherence to the Hanafi school. Fearing for himself and his family, he gave up and later left the university.

A university lecturer, speaking anonymously, told Etilaatroz that the dormitory had room for at least 600 students this year and should provide free housing and meals to admitted students, but that Taliban criteria on appearance, behaviour and mother tongue shape admissions, and that Pashtun students are given priority.

The report carried no response from the Taliban caretaker government. The story has not yet been confirmed by other sources.

Why it matters: free tuition and state dormitories are the only way many low-income students can study. If dorm places are allocated by ethnicity and religion, ethnic and religious minorities, including Hazaras and Shia Muslims, are effectively pushed out of higher education — contrary to equal treatment and freedom of religion or belief.

ACW will continue to follow this story.