Taliban have officially banned the game of chess across Afghanistan, citing religious concerns and administrative dysfunction within the national chess federation, sources confirmed on Sunday.

Axar.az informs, citing Amu TV, Atal Mashwani, a spokesperson for the Taliban’s General Directorate of Physical Education and Sports, told local media that the prohibition was enacted due to “Sharia-related reasons” and ongoing issues in the leadership of the Afghan Chess Federation.

Chess, long regarded as a tool for cognitive development and decision-making, has deep historical ties to the region and had seen a revival in Afghanistan in recent decades. Afghan players participated in international competitions and local tournaments prior to the Taliban’s return.

The ban is the latest in a series of sweeping restrictions the Taliban have imposed on cultural and athletic life, particularly for women. Since August 2021, Taliban have prohibited women from participating in virtually all organized sports, in addition to enforcing bans on secondary and higher education for girls and barring women from most public-sector jobs.

Human rights organizations and international sports authorities have condemned the Taliban’s policies as repressive and discriminatory. Taliban have defended their decisions as being in accordance with their interpretation of Islamic law.

No official documentation of the chess ban has been made public, but officials at the federation and members of the country’s sports community say the prohibition is already being enforced in practice.