Taliban bans chess in Afghanan over Islamic law concerns | World News
The Taliban government has suspended chess across Afghanan, citing concerns that the game may promote gambling—an activity considered forbidden under their interpretation of Islamic law. The suspension, announced on Sunday, will remain in effect until religious authorities determine whether the game aligns with Islamic principles.
“Until these considerations are addressed, the sport of chess is suspended in Afghanan,” said Atal Mashwani, spokesperson for the Taliban’s sports directorate, speaking to AFP.
In Kabul, the ban has disrupted small social hubs where chess served as a rare recreational outlet. Azizullah Gulzada, who runs a café in the city that has hosted informal chess games for years, said the move could hurt both his business and the mental well-being of his patrons.
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“Young people don’t have a lot of activities these days, so many came here every day,” Gulzada told AFP. He added that no gambling took place and pointed out that chess is widely played across other Muslim-majority countries.
Other sports restrictions
Since taking power in August 2021, the Taliban has gradually imposed increasingly strict laws. Last year, authorities banned professional mixed martial arts (MMA) competitions, calling them too “violent” and “problematic with respect to sharia.”
Women, meanwhile, have been almost entirely excluded from sports under the Taliban regime. International bodies and human rights groups have repeatedly condemned these moves as regressive and discriminatory.
As of now, there is no official timeline for when or if the chess ban might be reviewed. The Taliban has not detailed what specific religious criteria the game must meet to be reinstated.
(With inputs from BBC, AFP)
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