Date: 21/02/1404
8 sobh newspaper, Kabul: The General Directorate of the Afghan Olympic, Physical Education and Sports Committee under the Taliban administration says that the game of chess will be banned in the country from now on. On Sunday, May 10, Ethel Mashwani, the spokesperson for the General Directorate of the Afghan Olympic, Physical Education and Sports Committee of Afghanistan, confirmed to the media that the game of chess in the country has been suspended due to problems at the leadership level of the chess federation and "religious considerations" about the sport. He added that after "religious investigations" on the game of chess and the end of anomalies at the leadership level of the chess federation, a decision will be made on the resumption of chess games under the umbrella of the sports department of this group. It is worth mentioning that during their more than three years of rule, the Taliban have imposed extensive restrictions on the country's citizens and even athletes. The Taliban had previously banned the sport of free fighting in the country. During this time, a large number of athletes in the country have emigrated to other countries.

The suspension of chess by Taliban authorities reflects the continued expansion of ideological control into cultural and recreational life. by invoking vague “religious considerations” to ban a non-violent intellectual sport, the Taliban extend moral regulation beyond conduct into thought, leisure, and cultural expression. The absence of clear criteria, timelines, or independent review underscores the arbitrary nature of the decision and its use as a tool of conformity rather than governance. This restriction contributes to the narrowing of civic and cultural space, limits opportunities for social participation, and reinforces a broader pattern of suppressing activities deemed incompatible with Taliban doctrine, with cumulative effects on athletes, youth, and cultural life.