Overview

• The Taliban has formally prohibited chess nationwide, citing its classification as gambling under Sharia law.
• The Afghan Chess Federation, established in 1984 and a FIDE member since 1988, was dissolved earlier this month.
• The ban reinstates a similar prohibition first imposed during the Taliban’s 1996–2001 rule, which was lifted after their ouster in the early 2000s.
• Chess had been widely practiced in 28 provinces, with eight provinces hosting women’s teams prior to the Taliban's return to power in 2021.
• The suspension reflects broader restrictions under the 2024 Virtue and Vice Law, which codifies the Taliban's strict interpretation of Islamic principles.