The Taliban government has imposed an indefinite ban on chess across Afghanistan, claiming the game promotes gambling, which they consider outlawed under their interpretation of Islamic law, according to local media outlets.
Atal Mashwani, spokesperson for the Taliban’s General Directorate of Physical Education and Sports, said chess is “considered a means of gambling” in Islamic Sharia law. He added that the suspension would remain in place until religious authorities decide whether the game aligns with Islamic principles.
The ban is part of a wider crackdown on sports and recreational activities since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021. Prior to this, mixed martial arts had been prohibited for being too violent, while women remain effectively barred from all forms of sports.
An addictive threat?
The group primarily opposes chess and gambling because they consider these activities un-Islamic, believing these activities promote idleness, distract from religious duties, and encourage immoral behaviour. Gambling is explicitly forbidden in Islam, and some hardline clerics see chess as fostering rivalry, addiction, and wasting time that should be spent worshipping.
The decision has also affected several small businesses that hosted informal chess competitions. Several café owners, who used to promote chess in Kabul, have expressed concern, stating that young people had few recreational options and frequently visited their café to play chess and socialise. However, with the Taliban’s decision, their business has suffered significantly. Several also noted that chess is played in many other Muslim-majority countries, raising questions about differing interpretations of Islamic law.
Not the first chess ban
However, this is not the first time the Taliban has targeted chess. Even during their previous rule (1996–2001), the game was banned for being un-Islamic and a distraction from prayer. In 2009, the group even banned all board games in prisons, claiming inmates used them to plan escapes.
Since regaining power, the Taliban has imposed sweeping restrictions on cultural life. Entertainment and public engagement have been significantly curtailed, and women have been subjected to severe limits, including bans on education beyond primary school, employment, and access to public spaces like parks and gyms.
Chess players and organisers have faced increasing pressure, with many clubs forced to close. In 2022, several chess players reported that many officials and players had either remained silent or fled the country due to fears of persecution, according to a report by the Indian Express. Despite the game’s popularity in the wider Islamic world, the Taliban continues to justify its ban on moral and religious grounds, further isolating Afghan society from global norms.
