Taliban shakes the chess in Afghanistan about gambling problems

The Taliban government in Afghanistan has forbidden chess to further body because of the fear that the game is a source of gambling.

Officials said that the game is prohibited indefinitely until the compatibility with Islamic law can be determined.

Chess is the newest sport that is limited by the Taliban. Women are essentially excluded from participating in sports.

Since seizing power August 2021The Taliban has steadily imposed laws and regulations that reflect his sober vision of Islamic law.

On Sunday, Atal Mashwani, the spokesperson for the Taliban government sports director, said that chess in Islamic Sharia legislation “is considered a means to gamble”.

“There are religious considerations with regard to chess,” he told AFP News Agency.

“Until these considerations are tackled, the chess sport is suspended in Afghanistan.”

A café owner in Kabul, who has organized informal chess competitions in recent years, said he would respect the decision, but it would harm his company.

“Young people don’t have many activities these days, so many came here every day,” said Azizullah Gulzada.

“They would have a cup of tea and challenge their friends for a chess game.”

He also noted that chess is played in other countries of the Muslim majority.

Last year the authorities forbidden free fighting such as mixed martial arts (MMA) in professional competition and said that it was too “violent” and “problematic with regard to sharia”.

“It turned out that the sport is problematic with regard to sharia and it has many aspects that are contradictory with the doctrine of Islam,” one Spokesperson for the Taliban said last August.

MMA competitions were effectively prohibited in 2021 when the Taliban introduced legislation that forbade “Face-Punching”.