Latest news with #PropagationofVirtueandPreventionofVice
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.
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
News18
11-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
Taliban Bans Chess In Afghanistan, Cites Gambling Concerns Under Islamic Law
Last Updated: Afghanistan's authorities have restricted other sports in recent years and women have been essentially barred from participating in sport altogether in the country 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 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". 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 sharia". First Published: May 11, 2025, 23:35 IST
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
U.N.: Men with 'wrong' hairstyle, women speaking in public targeted under Taliban law
April 10 (UPI) -- The Taliban's morality police -- some 3,300 officers vested by the regime to enforce its so-called "Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice" laws -- routinely detain Afghans for having the wrong haircut or beard-style and not attending mosque for daily prayers, the United Nations said Thursday. The U.N.'s mission in the country said in a report on the PVPV law over the six months since it came into force in August that men, women, minorities, and young people had been impacted by zealous enforcement across all aspects of daily life, intruding into personal and private spaces, public areas, economic activity and, in the case of non-Sunni Muslims, religion. Women and girls were worst affected, with the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan saying it had seen a tightening of restrictions on them, including access to public spaces, dress codes and freedom of movement without a male guardian and that citizens were taking it upon themselves to police women's conduct. "Female access to healthcare, already constrained, has been further restricted by women's inability to travel alone for short distances and female healthcare professionals in several areas described their inability to report to duty because they do not have a male guardian," the report said. "These restrictions have also created a culture of uncertainty and fear. Many women reported that enforcement responsibilities have been increasingly taken up by local community and family members, reshaping social and family dynamics." UNAMA detailed draconian new measures being imposed on women by PVPV, including not leaving home without a good reason and only with her face and body fully covered, and remaining silent when out in public [although speaking is permitted "when necessary" such as during shopping]. Adult women are also forbidden to look at any man to whom they are not related, although this rule also applies to men looking at women. However, enforcement was also impacting men due to strict rules on hairstyle and beard length, attendance at prayers and other stipulations, with UNAMA saying over half of arbitrary detentions under the law were appearance-related targeting not only those in violation of mandated beard lengths or hairstyles but also barbers providing non-compliant beard trimming or haircuts. Mandatory attendance of congregational prayers, UNAMA noted, was particularly closely monitored during the 28-day long Ramadan period of fasting -- Islam's equivalent of Lent -- resulting in many instances of those failing to attend being arbitrarily arrested under powers that give PVPV inspectors authority to hold suspects for up to three days and confiscate or destroy property. UNAMA said the new law grants enforcement powers to a de facto "anti-vice ministry" operating out of the former premises of the Women's Affairs Ministry and codifies many rules prohibiting "un-Islamic" customs and conduct that were already in force either in some provinces or across the whole country. These include mandatory face coverings for women outdoors, an Islamic appearance for men, attending prayers and bans on certain festivals as well as music, images of living beings, narcotics, alcohol, the cross, neckties, and "vices" including gambling, prostitution, adultery and homosexuality. The report noted that the PVPV law had an economic impact on both men and women that was likely to worsen an already dire economic crisis in the country with women's widespread exclusion from workplaces and education depriving families of part or all of their income, exacerbating poverty. Men and women were affected due to a particular impact on the small businesses that employ many Afghans, such as private education centers, barbers and hairdressers, tailors, wedding caterers and restaurants whose business activities were curtailed or terminated, leading to a "reduction or total loss of income and employment opportunities." UNAMA also found that already highly restricted access to non-state-controlled information sources and freedom of expression were being further impacted by PVPV due to uncertainty around the bans on music and images of humans and animals. The report concluded that six months in, the infrastructure, propaganda apparatus and personnel the Taliban had assembled to implement the law showed it was determined to distance Afghanistan from its international obligations, pushing the goal of reintegrating Afghanistan into the international community further out of reach. The mission reiterated the U.N. Security Council's resolution last month calling on the Taliban to immediately reverse its "vice and virtue" directive.
