Prominent Pashto poet Matiullah Turab passed away on Monday after suffering a heart attack. He was laid to rest on Tuesday in the eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar, according to Afghan media reports.
Turab, known for his bold and socially conscious poetry, was widely mourned across literary circles, particularly among Pashto writers, poets, and lovers of literature. Expressions of grief poured in from across the region, with many remembering him as a fearless voice in contemporary Afghan poetry.
Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Taliban government, also expressed condolences on social media platform X, writing, “The passing of the people’s poet Matiullah Turab deeply saddened us. We pray for Paradise for him and patience for his family and loved ones.”
Matiullah Turab gained widespread recognition through his critical poetry at Afghanistan’s famous Naranj Gul Mushaira, a major annual Pashto poetry gathering. His verses, often sharply critical of foreign military presence in Afghanistan, were frequently broadcast on local television and widely shared across social media.
In March of this year, Turab sparked controversy during his performance at the Naranj Gul Mushaira in Jalalabad. In his recitation, he called for the reopening of girls’ schools and directly addressed Taliban leader Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada, urging him to move to Kabul from Kandahar if he sought to govern more effectively.
Born in March 1971 in Khogyani district of Nangarhar province, Turab spent much of his life in the southern province of Khost. He supported his family by running a vehicle repair workshop, and remained rooted in his community even as his literary stature grew.
For years, Turab’s poetry focused on themes of Pashtun nationalism and Afghan unity. He was an outspoken critic during the previous government and continued to participate in major public events and poetry gatherings even after the Taliban returned to power in 2021.