Latest news with #GhulamAliMalakZad
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
The Taliban Banned Chess
Since the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, the extremist Islamic group has unleashed sweeping draconian policies to transform the nation into a more traditional society that espouses the moral and religious values of Sharia law. The banning of girls from secondary education, forcing women out of work, and extreme media censorship have made headlines, but an equally insidious campaign has largely been missed. The Taliban has focused on dismantling leisure and joy, with its latest target one of humanity's oldest pastimes: chess. On May 11, Afghanistan's Ministry of Sports issued a declaration stating the game's indefinite suspension, elaborating that "religious concerns" needed to be properly addressed. This declaration came after Atal Mashwani, spokesperson for the country's sports directorate, stated last year that the game was considered gambling under Sharia law. Until these religious objections are resolved, chess will remain in limbo. The Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice effectively dissolved the Afghanistan National Chess Federation (ANCF), an organization that governs chess competitions in the nation and represents Afghanistan in the World Chess Federation. Speaking with president of the ANCF Ghulam Ali Malak Zad said the suspension halted all of the federation's official operations, even restricting casual, non-competitive play in public spaces. This is part of a broader pattern. Since 2021, the Taliban have been targeting different forms of recreation, under the guise of improving morality. In 2022, the government barred women from entering public spaces such as gyms and parks, decreeing that "people were ignoring gender segregation orders and that women were not wearing the required hijab." In 2023, the government burned musical instruments, claiming music "causes moral corruption." The founder of the Afghanistan National Institute of Music, Ahmad Sarmast, called it an act of "cultural genocide." Many musicians have fled the nation since 2021. The Taliban are not only regulating morality—they are fundamentally eliminating voluntary activity. The bans reflect a political effect more than a religious one. Building a community and asserting some level of individuality outside the state's control is a grave threat to regimes that thrive on obedience and passivity. Furthermore, a game that promotes strategic reasoning, voluntary and friendly competitions, and independent thought is truly dangerous to a regime that demands conformity. Authoritarian regimes don't just rewrite their constitutions or crush any form of political dissent; they slowly chip away at small freedoms that make life more enjoyable. When any government decides how people relax, think, or enjoy themselves, it isn't just about policing morality—it's about asserting political control. The post The Taliban Banned Chess appeared first on
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Taliban bans chess
The Taliban has banned Afghans from playing chess until it works out whether the game is compatible with Islamic law. The decision, announced by the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, follows the dissolution of the Afghanistan Chess Federation and places all chess-related activities on indefinite suspension. Atal Mashwani, spokesman for the Taliban's sports directorate, said on Sunday: 'There are religious considerations regarding chess, and it is prohibited in the propagation of virtue. 'Until these are addressed, the sport is suspended.' While the regime insists the ban is under review, no timeline has been given for a possible reinstatement. 'This is a suspension, not an outright ban, but it feels like the death of chess in Afghanistan,' a senior official from the now-defunct Afghanistan National Chess Federation (ANCF) told The Telegraph. 'Chess runs in the blood of Afghan society. You'll find it in homes, cafes and even village gatherings,' he added. 'Afghans love chess, we've won international medals, and the game is part of our cultural identity.' Until the Taliban's scholars determine whether chess is halal (allowed), haram (prohibited) or perhaps Makrooh Tahreem (disliked), all chess events are suspended, the ANCF official said. 'In many Islamic countries, chess is not banned. This is more about interpretation than religion,' he added. The official said that internal disputes had paralysed Afghanistan's chess federation well before the formal ban. After the fall of Kabul to the Taliban in 2021, ANCF officials fled the country fearing they would be killed because they worked for the previous government. In their absence, the Taliban appointed new leaders of the body, who were not approved by the international chess authorities. Authorities still recognise the old body led by Ghulam Ali Malak Zad, who is thought to currently be in Germany or somewhere else in Europe. Local players believe Mr Zad is working in cahoots with international chess authorities and has not allowed the Taliban body to work. 'The federation has not functioned effectively for the past two years,' the official said. 'The issue lies both with religious objections and leadership problems.' 'The president of the federation fled abroad years ago but still interferes, which has caused chaos for players on the ground.' 'The tussle between the Taliban and international chess bodies has left Afghan players caught in the middle,' he said. Chess was banned under previous Taliban rule between 1996 to 2001. In 1996, the Afghan Olympic team went to Armenia for the Yerevan Chess Olympiad and found they could not return. The game has experienced a modest revival in the country in recent years, with players participating in international tournaments and grass-roots competitions gaining popularity in urban centres like Kabul. Informal games were often held in cafes and parks, offering rare moments of leisure in an increasingly repressive environment. Azizullah Gulzada, a cafe owner in Kabul who hosted local chess tournaments, rejected claims that the game promoted gambling. 'Young people don't have a lot of activities these days, so many came here,' he told AFP. 'They would have a cup of tea and challenge their friends to a game of chess.' Abdul Khaliq Wais, the ANCF's former vice president, said the country was at 'serious risk of losing chess entirely'. 'Without institutional support, it will vanish from Afghan society.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
