Taliban Ban Online Chess Tournaments in Afghanistan

The Taliban regime in Afghanistan has extended its prohibition on chess to include online tournaments, a year after declaring the sport haram and shutting down physical clubs. Abdul Khaliq Wais, Vice President of the Afghanistan Chess Federation, reported that organizers of online competitions were summoned by security agencies and pressured by the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice to cease operations. Despite chess being a mind game with no inherent danger, the authorities used threats to extract commitments from organizers to stop hosting events. This move effectively eliminates the last remaining avenue for Afghan chess enthusiasts to participate in the sport, following the earlier closure of the national federation and local clubs. The ban highlights the Taliban's strict interpretation of Islamic law regarding recreational activities, drawing criticism for targeting a non-violent intellectual pursuit. The report also contains unrelated segments regarding financial disputes at an Iranian football club and US visa issues for the World Cup, but the primary news event concerns the suppression of chess activities in Afghanistan.