Latest news with #AzizullahGulzada
Global News
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Global News
Taliban adds chess to ever-growing list of things banned in Afghanistan
The Taliban have banned chess in Afghanistan, citing religious reasons, adding the game to a long list of pastimes and activities that are prohibited across the country. Citing fears that the game is a source of gambling, Taliban officials said it will be suspended indefinitely until it's determined how compatible chess is with Islamic law, the BBC reports. The move to ban chess is just the latest in an ever-growing list of restrictions to cultural, social and sporting events dictated by the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice Ministry since the hardline, Islamist Taliban returned to power in 2021. Restrictions on once-commonplace activities have been particularly directed at women, barring them from public spaces, education and jobs. Atal Mashwani, spokesperson for the Taliban's Sports Directorate, told TOLO News that chess has been suspended 'due to leadership issues within the national chess federation and religious concerns surrounding the game.' Story continues below advertisement He said chess in Sharia or Islamic law is considered 'a means of gambling.' The Afghanistan Chess Federation has also been dissolved as part of the ban. 2:04 How a Canadian charity is helping Afghan women restricted under Taliban rule One cafe owner in Kabul, who hosts regular amateur chess competitions but says gambling is never involved, told the BBC he would suspend the tournaments but that it would hurt his bottom line. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'Young people don't have a lot of activities these days, so many came here every day,' Azizullah Gulzada told the outlet. 'They would have a cup of tea and challenge their friends to a game of chess.' He also noted to the AFP that 'many other Islamic countries have players on an international level.' Story continues below advertisement The move to ban chess comes just months after the Taliban banned free fighting, such as mixed martial arts, saying it was not aligned with sharia (Islamic law) and was too 'violent.' The banning of MMA followed a 2021 law that prohibited 'face-punching.' Last October, the Taliban issued a decree that prohibits women from praying aloud or reciting the Qur'an in each other's presence. Two months earlier, in August 2024, they issued laws making it mandatory for women to veil their entire bodies, including their faces, at all times in public. Women were also forbidden from singing, reciting and reading aloud in public, as a woman's voice is deemed 'intimate' and should not be heard. Women are already excluded from education after sixth grade, many public spaces and most jobs. They are also prohibited from looking at men they are not related to by blood or marriage.
Indian Express
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Taliban bans chess in Afghanistan over Islamic law concerns
The Taliban government has suspended chess across Afghanistan, 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 Afghanistan,' 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. '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. 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)
Malay Mail
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
No moves left: Taliban bans chess in Afghanistan, says it promotes gambling under Islamic law
KABUL, May 12 — Taliban authorities have barred chess across Afghanistan until further notice over concerns it is a source of gambling, which is illegal under the government's morality law, a sports official said on Sunday. The Taliban government has steadily imposed laws and regulations that reflect its austere vision of Islamic law since seizing power in 2021. 'Chess in shariah (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 said. 'Until these considerations are addressed, the sport of chess is suspended in Afghanistan,' he added. Mashwani said the national chess federation had not held any official events for around two years and 'had some issues on the leadership level'. Azizullah Gulzada owns a cafe in Kabul that has hosted informal chess competitions in recent years, but denied any gambling took place and noted chess was played in other Muslim-majority countries. 'Many other Islamic countries have players on an international level,' he told AFP. He said he would respect the suspension but that it would hurt his business and those who enjoyed the game. 'Young people don't have a lot of activities these days, so many came here everyday,' he told AFP. 'They would have a cup of tea and challenge their friends to a game of chess.' Afghanistan's authorities have restricted other sports in recent years and women have been essentially barred from participating in sport altogether in the country. Last year, the authorities banned free fighting such as mixed martial arts (MMA) in professional competition, saying it was too 'violent' and 'problematic with respect to shariah'. — AFP
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Taliban suspends chess over gambling concerns
The Taliban government in Afghanistan has banned chess until further notice due to fears the game is a source of gambling. Officials said the game has been prohibited indefinitely until its compatibility with Islamic law can be determined. Chess is the latest sport to be restricted by the Taliban. Women are essentially barred from participating in sport at all. Since seizing power in August 2021, the Taliban has steadily imposed laws and regulations that reflect its austere vision of Islamic law. On Sunday, Atal Mashwani, the spokesman of the Taliban government's sports directorate, said chess in Islamic sharia law is "considered a means of gambling". "There are religious considerations regarding the sport of chess," he told AFP news agency. "Until these considerations are addressed, the sport of chess is suspended in Afghanistan." How the Taliban stormed across Afghanistan in 10 days The Taliban's broken promises One cafe owner in Kabul, who has hosted informal chess competitions in recent years, said he would respect the decision but it would hurt his business. "Young people don't have a lot of activities these days, so many came here everyday," Azizullah Gulzada said. "They would have a cup of tea and challenge their friends to a game of chess." He also noted that chess is played in other Muslim-majority countries. Last year, the authorities banned free fighting such as mixed martial arts (MMA) in professional competition, saying it was too "violent" and "problematic with respect to sharia". "It was found that the sport is problematic with respect to Sharia and it has many aspects which are contradictory to the teachings of Islam," a Taliban spokesperson said last August. MMA competitions were effectively outlawed in 2021 when the Taliban introduced legislation prohibiting "face-punching".
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Taliban suspends chess over gambling concerns
The Taliban government in Afghanistan has banned chess until further notice due to fears the game is a source of gambling. Officials said the game has been prohibited indefinitely until its compatibility with Islamic law can be determined. Chess is the latest sport to be restricted by the Taliban. Women are essentially barred from participating in sport at all. Since seizing power in August 2021, the Taliban has steadily imposed laws and regulations that reflect its austere vision of Islamic law. On Sunday, Atal Mashwani, the spokesman of the Taliban government's sports directorate, said chess in Islamic sharia law is "considered a means of gambling". "There are religious considerations regarding the sport of chess," he told AFP news agency. "Until these considerations are addressed, the sport of chess is suspended in Afghanistan." How the Taliban stormed across Afghanistan in 10 days The Taliban's broken promises One cafe owner in Kabul, who has hosted informal chess competitions in recent years, said he would respect the decision but it would hurt his business. "Young people don't have a lot of activities these days, so many came here everyday," Azizullah Gulzada said. "They would have a cup of tea and challenge their friends to a game of chess." He also noted that chess is played in other Muslim-majority countries. Last year, the authorities banned free fighting such as mixed martial arts (MMA) in professional competition, saying it was too "violent" and "problematic with respect to sharia". "It was found that the sport is problematic with respect to Sharia and it has many aspects which are contradictory to the teachings of Islam," a Taliban spokesperson said last August. MMA competitions were effectively outlawed in 2021 when the Taliban introduced legislation prohibiting "face-punching".
