Taliban authorities have prohibited chess across Afghanistan indefinitely due to concerns that it constitutes a source of gambling, which is illegal under the government’s morality law, a sports official announced on Sunday.
Since seizing power in 2021, the Taliban government has consistently implemented laws and regulations that align with its strict interpretation of Islamic law.
“Chess in sharia (Islamic law) is considered a means of gambling,” which is prohibited according to the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice law announced last year, sports directorate spokesperson Atal Mashwani told AFP.
“There are religious considerations regarding the sport of chess,” he stated.
“Until these considerations are addressed, the sport of chess is suspended in Afghanistan,” he added.
Mashwani mentioned that the national chess federation had not organized any official events for approximately two years and “had some issues at the leadership level.”
Azizullah Gulzada, who owns a cafe in Kabul that has hosted informal chess competitions in recent years, denied any gambling took place and pointed out that chess is played in numerous other Muslim-majority countries.
“Many other Islamic countries have players at an international level,” he told AFP.
He stated that he would respect the suspension but that it would negatively impact his business and those who enjoyed the game.
“Young people don’t have many activities these days, so many came here every day,” he told AFP.
“They would have a cup of tea and challenge their friends to a game of chess.”
Authorities in Afghanistan have restricted other sports in recent years, and women have been effectively barred from participating in any sport within the country.
Last year, the authorities outlawed free fighting such as mixed martial arts (MMA) in professional competition, deeming it too “violent” and “problematic with respect to sharia.”
