Taliban Confirms Removal & Ban Of Hundreds Of Books Across Afghanistan
The Taliban have confirmed that hundreds of books have been banned and removed from libraries and bookstores across Afghanistan over the past three years.
The Taliban have confirmed that hundreds of books have been banned and removed from libraries and bookstores across Afghanistan over the past three years.
Abdulhaq Emad, head of copyright at the Taliban’s Ministry of Information and Culture said that the content of these books deemed inconsistent with Islamic Sharia, national unity, or the group’s ideological principles.
Emad made the announcement during a conference in Kabul on Wednesday. He stated that the Taliban have actively prohibited the publication, sale, and distribution of books considered incompatible with their regime.
Since regaining power in 2021, the Taliban have significantly tightened censorship across Afghanistan’s publishing sector, resulting in the withdrawal of thousands of books from circulation. Titles covering political theory, philosophy, law, and social issues have been among the most targeted.
In addition to suppressing independent publications, the Taliban have also banned several university textbooks, further restricting academic freedom and access to diverse sources of knowledge within higher education institutions.
