Taliban Bans Chess in Afghanistan: ‘Means of Gambling’
13th May 2025
We weren’t aware that the game of chess could lead to a raging gambling addiction, but apparently the Taliban thinks so…
“The Taliban government in Afghanistan has banned chess until further notice due to fears the game is a source of gambling,” BBC reports Monday. “Officials said the game has been prohibited indefinitely until its compatibility with Islamic law can be determined.”
“There are religious considerations regarding the sport of chess,” Atal Mashwani, the spokesman of the Taliban government’s sports directorate, told AFP news agency. “Until these considerations are addressed, the sport of chess is suspended in Afghanistan.”