RFE RL
The circumstances of Naveed Ahmad’s life have imposed many restrictions on the impoverished Afghan teenager. He can’t travel abroad, pursue his dream of getting a university degree, or even afford to eat out with friends.But the one thing the19-year-old never lost access to was his favorite sport and pastime: Chess.Among the dozens of restrictions the Taliban have imposed on its citizens, the recent adoption of a measure banning chess due to “religious considerations.”
As someone who loves playing chess, I was very, very upset that chess has been banned in Afghanistan,” said Ahmad, speaking by phone from his native province of Kunduz in the country’s north.I have always dreamt of taking part in chess tournaments and hoped that at least I would travel to various provinces to play chess,” said Ahmad, who has played chess since the age of 10.
The Taliban’s sports directorate said it was suspending chess until the further notice over concerns that the sport encourages gambling, which is banned in Islam.The state agency’s spokesman Atal Mashwani told reporters in mid-May that chess would remain suspended across Afghanistan “until these considerations are addressed, the sport of chess is suspended in Afghanistan.”
Nearly three months on, the Taliban authorities have not announced if they have come to a final decision.RFE/RL contacted Mashwani for comment, but he did not respond to the requests.The Taliban first outlawed chess during its previous stint in power that ended in 2001.The chess suspension adds to a long list of bans and restrictions that the Taliban has imposed on sports, arts, and other activities since returning to power in August 2021.
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