“This is not just a game for us. Chess helps young people stay mentally engaged. Now we’re left with silence and sorrow.” — Azizullah Gulzada, Kabul café owner
On May 12, 2025, the Taliban regime in Afghanistan officially suspended chess, citing concerns over its compliance with Islamic law. The decision, announced by the Taliban’s sports directorate, reflects an intensifying trend of cultural and recreational restrictions in the country since the regime’s return to power in August 2021.
While framed as a temporary move pending religious review, the ban has sparked widespread concern domestically and internationally. This development adds to a growing list of prohibited activities—including women’s sports, MMA, and live entertainment—marking another step in the Taliban’s rigid interpretation of Sharia law. As chessboards vanish from Kabul’s cafés and parks, the move has ignited debates over personal freedoms, mental well-being, and Afghanistan’s cultural future.
❓ Why the Taliban Banned Chess
According to Taliban officials, the suspension of chess stems from its perceived incompatibility with Islamic values. The regime’s justification centers on several religious concerns, though these interpretations remain highly contested among Islamic scholars worldwide.
Taliban’s Stated Justifications:
- Gambling Concerns: Belief that chess may promote gambling, which is strictly forbidden (haram) under Sharia law
- Religious Distraction: Argument that the game distracts from religious duties and prayer obligations
- Idle Behavior: View that chess encourages time-wasting and non-productive activities
- Mental Obsession: Concern that strategic games can lead to excessive mental preoccupation
Think of this ban as the Taliban applying extremely strict rules to everyday life—like a school banning board games because they think students might bet on them or get too distracted. While most Islamic scholars disagree with this interpretation, the Taliban view chess through their ultra-conservative lens of what they consider “religiously acceptable” activities.
Religious Debate:
While no direct scripture explicitly bans chess, the Taliban cite conservative hadith interpretations and medieval Islamic legal opinions. However, this stance contrasts sharply with:
- Mainstream Islamic scholarship that permits chess as intellectual exercise
- Historical precedent of chess flourishing in Islamic golden age civilizations
- Contemporary Muslim-majority nations actively promoting chess
- Modern Islamic scholars who view chess as beneficial for cognitive development
Don’t confuse: Taliban’s interpretation with mainstream Islam. Chess is NOT banned in most Muslim-majority countries. Iran, Egypt, Indonesia, and Turkey all actively promote chess in schools and tournaments. The Taliban represent an extreme minority view.
📜 History of Sports and Cultural Bans Under Taliban Rule
Since retaking power in August 2021, the Taliban have methodically reintroduced restrictions reminiscent of their previous rule (1996-2001). Their governance has included widespread limitations on women’s rights, media censorship, and increasingly, recreational activities.
Notable Bans Since 2021:
- Women’s Sports (All Levels): Complete prohibition on female participation in sports, including education and national teams
- MMA (Mixed Martial Arts): Banned due to physical exposure and aggressive conduct deemed un-Islamic
- Live Music Performances: Restricted as part of broader cultural censorship
- TV Shows and Entertainment: Heavy censorship and bans on Western-style programming
- Women’s Education (Secondary/University): Severe restrictions on female education beyond primary level
- Beauty Salons: Banned in some provinces as promoting un-Islamic beauty standards
- Chess (May 2025): Latest addition to prohibited recreational activities
Pattern Recognition: The chess ban follows a clear Taliban pattern: First Rule (1996-2001) banned music, kites, chess; Current Rule (2021-present) reintroducing similar restrictions systematically.
📢 Official Announcement and Key Details
On May 12, 2025, the ban was formally declared by Atal Mashwani, spokesperson for the Taliban’s sports directorate, during an official press briefing in Kabul.
Official Statement Highlights:
- Date: May 12, 2025
- Announced By: Atal Mashwani (Taliban Sports Directorate spokesperson)
- Scope: Nationwide chess suspension across all public and private venues
- Condition: Ban remains until reviewed by religious scholars for Sharia compliance
- Timeline: No defined deadline for religious review or potential lifting of ban
- Enforcement: Immediate implementation through local Taliban authorities
Practical Implementation:
- Chess sets removed from public cafés and community centers
- Online chess platforms reportedly blocked or monitored
- Chess clubs and informal gatherings discouraged
- Educational institutions instructed to cease chess-related activities
Though declared as “temporary,” the lack of a defined timeline for review has led many to fear the ban may become permanent, similar to other “temporary” restrictions that have persisted since 2021.
😞 Reactions in Kabul and Across Afghanistan
The suspension has deeply impacted local communities, especially in Kabul, where chess had long been a cherished pastime in cafés, parks, and community centers. The game served not only as entertainment but also as a tool for mental stimulation and social bonding in a country ravaged by decades of conflict.
Café Owners and Business Impact:
Azizullah Gulzada, a café owner in Kabul, expressed the sentiment of many: “This is not just a game for us. Chess helps young people stay mentally engaged. Now we’re left with silence and sorrow.”
- Chess-themed venues losing customers overnight
- Economic impact on small businesses dependent on recreational traffic
- Loss of safe community gathering spaces
Youth and Intellectual Community:
- Mental Health Concerns: Loss of cognitive stimulation and peaceful outlet in conflict-affected society
- Social Isolation: Reduction in safe, non-political spaces for social interaction
- Intellectual Suppression: Symbolic message that even strategic thinking activities face scrutiny
- Cultural Erosion: Removal of centuries-old tradition of chess in Afghan society
Why might authoritarian regimes fear activities that promote critical thinking and strategic planning? Chess requires players to think several moves ahead, anticipate consequences, and develop independent decision-making—skills that could translate to questioning authority and rigid social structures.
🌍 International Condemnation and Muslim-World Comparison
Human rights organizations, chess federations, and international observers have condemned the decision, highlighting its impact on personal freedoms, mental well-being, and cultural development.
International Response:
- FIDE (International Chess Federation): Expressed deep concern over ban’s impact on Afghan chess community
- Human Rights Watch: Condemned ban as another restriction on basic freedoms
- UN Human Rights Council: Noted ban as evidence of deteriorating civil liberties
- Islamic Scholars Worldwide: Many rejected Taliban’s interpretation as extreme and unfounded
| Country | Chess Status | Government Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan (Taliban) | ❌ Banned | Prohibited as un-Islamic |
| Iran | ✅ Promoted | National tournaments, school programs |
| Egypt | ✅ Encouraged | Educational tool in schools |
| Indonesia | ✅ Promoted | Youth development programs |
| Turkey | ✅ Promoted | Competitive sports, international tournaments |
| Saudi Arabia | ✅ Allowed | Growing chess community |
These examples challenge the notion that chess is inherently un-Islamic, raising questions about the Taliban’s isolated and extreme interpretations of religious doctrine. The stark contrast demonstrates that the ban reflects political ideology rather than mainstream Islamic theology.
⚖️ Broader Implications for Afghan Society
The chess ban underscores a broader trend of shrinking civil liberties in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. While the regime insists it is acting in accordance with religious values, critics argue these measures erode intellectual freedom, stifle recreation, and contribute to mental health crises, especially among youth.
Social Repercussions:
- Suppressed Self-Expression: Even harmless intellectual pursuits face ideological scrutiny
- Reduced Cognitive Outlets: Loss of activities that promote critical thinking and problem-solving
- Community Fragmentation: Elimination of safe spaces for social gathering and interaction
- Youth Marginalization: Limited recreational options for young people in already difficult circumstances
- Cultural Isolation: Afghanistan increasingly separated from global intellectual and cultural exchanges
Mental Health Crisis:
Chess, often hailed as a game that fosters critical thinking, patience, and strategy, served as a peaceful intellectual outlet in a country long troubled by conflict. Mental health professionals warn that removing such activities in a trauma-affected population could exacerbate:
- Depression and anxiety rates
- Social withdrawal and isolation
- Lack of constructive coping mechanisms
- Increased frustration and resentment among youth
Signal to the World:
The ban sends a message to Afghan citizens and the international community that even the most harmless recreational activities may be subjected to rigid ideological control. This raises concerns about:
- Afghanistan’s trajectory toward becoming a closed society
- Future of intellectual and cultural development
- Prospects for international engagement and normalization
- Impact on Afghanistan’s young generation and their future opportunities
Can governments legitimately restrict recreational activities in the name of religious or cultural values, or do such restrictions violate fundamental human rights to leisure and personal development? Consider the balance between cultural sovereignty and universal human rights, the role of international community in responding to such restrictions, and the long-term societal impact of suppressing intellectual pursuits.
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The Taliban banned chess on May 12, 2025, through spokesperson Atal Mashwani of the sports directorate.
The Taliban cited Sharia law compliance concerns, particularly regarding gambling and religious distraction.
Atal Mashwani, spokesperson for the Taliban’s sports directorate, announced the chess ban.
Iran, Egypt, Indonesia, and Turkey all actively promote chess. The Taliban’s view is an extreme minority interpretation.
The Taliban have banned women’s sports, MMA, chess, live music, and many forms of entertainment since 2021.
