The Taliban government has added chess to its list of banned activities, classifying it as a gambling activity contrary to morality laws, said an official on Sunday.
Chess is “considered a method of gambling,” which is prohibited under the Law on the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, enacted last year, said Atal Mashwani, the spokesperson for the Directorate of Sports.
Due to “religious issues,” chess will be suspended in Afghanistan until these issues are addressed, added Mashwani, without specifying penalties for violations.
Azizullah Gulzada, a 46-year-old café owner in Kabul where patrons often played chess, said he would enforce the ban but remains unconvinced by the religious arguments.
“Many Muslim countries have international-level players participating in global competitions,” he told AFP.
“Many young people came here daily, without gambling,” he added, lamenting that they now have fewer reasons to gather. “People who are passionate about chess might be saddened.”
Since regaining power in 2021, Taliban authorities have incrementally imposed their ultra-strict interpretation of Islam, banning various activities and sports.
In 2024, MMA competitions were prohibited, with the government deeming them too “violent” and “problematic vis-à-vis Sharia,” although cricket remains very popular, but only among men.
Women have been increasingly marginalised by the Taliban, who have banned them from parks, gyms, beauty salons, and universities, prompting the United Nations to condemn what it describes as “gender apartheid.”
