Taliban Officially Bans Chess, Declares the Game ‘Forbidden’
The Taliban’s Sports Authority has formally suspended the Afghanistan Chess Federation, declaring the game of chess “haram” (forbidden under Islamic law), Afghanistan International has learned.
Sources say that national players and veteran chess figures recently approached the Directorate of Physical Education to request permission to resume activities and receive stipends. However, they were informed that chess had been banned on religious grounds.
According to these sources, officials from the Directorate stated that the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice had issued a ruling declaring chess haram, thereby ordering an end to all federation-related activities.
Prior to the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, the Afghanistan Chess Federation had been active in both men’s and women’s divisions, organising regular tournaments throughout the country, particularly in the provinces.
The federation had already been informally suspended since November 2024 due to the absence of a president or acting head, and the failure of the Directorate of Physical Education to process its affairs. At that time, it was reported that the former federation president, Ghulam Ali Malekzada, recognised by the World Chess Federation (FIDE), had relocated to Germany.
In the wake of Malekzada’s departure, the Taliban’s Sports Authority appointed Obaidullah Quraishi as interim head of the federation. However, following a reported dispute with Nazar Mohammad Motmaeen, then-head of Physical Education under the Taliban, Quraishi ceased his involvement.
The game has now been officially banned, following in the footsteps of other sports such as mixed martial arts, which were previously outlawed under similar justifications. Decisions regarding the sanctioning or prohibition of such activities have been delegated to the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice.
