Latest news with #Mashwani
NDTV
12-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Taliban Bans Chess In Afghanistan Over Gambling Concerns
The Taliban government has banned chess in Afghanistan until further notice, owing to fears that the game is a source of gambling for the players. Apart from banning the game, the Afghanistan National Chess Federation (ANCF) has also been suspended, according to a report in the BBC. The country's Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice announced the move, stating the game will remain prohibited until its compatibility with Islamic law can be determined. "Chess in sharia is considered a means of gambling, which is prohibited according to the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice law announced last year," said sports directorate spokesperson Atal Mashwani, adding that religious concerns are at the heart of the decision. "There are religious considerations regarding the sport of chess," said Mr Mashwani. Former president of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) Kirsan Ilyumzhninov said he had prepared an appeal to the taliban leadership to reconsider their decision. "In connection with the situation with the ban on chess in Afghanistan, I have prepared an appeal to the Taliban leadership with a request to reconsider their decision," wrote Mr Ilyumzhninov on X (formerly Twitter). ‼️ In connection with the situation with the ban on chess in Afghanistan, I have prepared an appeal to the Taliban leadership with a request to reconsider their decision. — Кирсан Илюмжинов (@Kirsan__) May 11, 2025 This is not the first instance when Chess has been banned in Afghanistan. After the Taliban came to power in the Asian nation in 1996, the terrorist outfit banned the game, but it managed to stage a comeback after the regime change in 2001. Last year, the authorities banned free fighting sports such as mixed martial arts (MMA) in professional competition, saying it was too "violent" and "problematic with respect to sharia". Since seizing power in August 2021 after the US hastily withdrew its troops, the Taliban has constantly curtailed the freedom of its citizens. Women are prohibited from pursuing higher education and are not allowed in public or amusement parks.
IOL News
12-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Taliban's controversial ban on chess
The Islamist group is concerned the game could be associated with gambling, which is prohibited under Afghanistan's morality laws Afghanistan's Taliban government has banned the game of chess across the country, arguing that it is incompatible with Islamic Sharia laws. The decision was announced on Sunday. 'There are religious considerations regarding the sport of chess,' the Taliban government's sports directorate spokesman, Atal Mashwani, told AFP, adding that the game is 'considered a means of gambling,' which was outlawed under the morality laws imposed by the Islamist group. The game will remain prohibited 'until these considerations are addressed,' the spokesman stated. According to Mashwani, the national chess federation has not held any events for around two years anyway.
RTÉ News
12-05-2025
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Taliban bans chess in Afghanistan over gambling concerns
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 has said. The Taliban government has steadily imposed laws and regulations that reflect its austere vision of Islamic law since seizing power in 2021. "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 said. "Until these considerations are addressed, the sport of chess is suspended in Afghanistan," he added. Mr 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 every day," 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 in professional competition, saying it was too "violent" and "problematic with respect to sharia".
Express Tribune
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Taliban suspend chess over gambling
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. "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 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".
India Today
11-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Taliban bans chess in Afghanistan, calls it against Sharia
The Taliban government has suspended chess in Afghanistan until further notice, citing concerns that the game may be linked to gambling, which is illegal under the country's strict interpretation of Islamic law. A sports official confirmed the suspension on action was taken by the sports directorate of the Taliban, who regulate all sports events in Afghanistan. Chess, in the view of Atal Mashwani, a government sports department spokesperson, is being treated as gambling according to Sharia law, which is strictly adhered to by the said, "Chess in sharia is considered a means of gambling, which is prohibited according to the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice law announced last year." He added that religious concerns are at the heart of the decision. "There are religious considerations regarding the sport of chess," Mashwani said, stressing that until these concerns are resolved, chess would remain banned in WILL IT AFFECT LOCALS? 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 said he would respect the suspension but that it would hurt his business and those who enjoyed the 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 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".With inputs from AFPALSO READ: Emmanuel Macron, Keir Starmer caught on cam in alleged cocaine party? Here's the truth
