In a fresh crackdown on recreational activities, the Taliban has officially outlawed the game of chess throughout Afghanistan, claiming it clashes with their interpretation of Islamic principles. The edict, declared by the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, halts all chess-related events and competitions until further religious review is conducted.
The announcement, made on May 11, came with the immediate disbanding of the Afghanistan Chess Federation. Authorities said the move is temporary, but indefinite. According to Atal Mashwani, spokesperson for the Taliban’s sports department, chess is currently viewed under Islamic law as a form of gambling — a practice strictly forbidden in Sharia. He noted, “Until the religious issues are resolved, chess will remain on hold.”
This is not the first time the Taliban has clamped down on sports and cultural expression. Last year, they prohibited combat sports such as mixed martial arts (MMA), labeling it excessively brutal and inconsistent with Islamic teachings. Since reclaiming control in 2021, the regime has increasingly narrowed the scope of permissible public activities.
Women, in particular, have been sidelined from all sports arenas under the new restrictions. Cultural, social, and athletic expressions that once had a presence in Afghan society are gradually vanishing under these policies.
The chess ban has sparked concern among international sporting communities, who view it as another blow to Afghanistan’s intellectual and cultural space.
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