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 Sunday.

This 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 Taliban.

Mashwani 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 Afghanistan.

HOW 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 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”.

With inputs from AFP

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