The Taliban government in Afghanistan has banned chess until further notice due to fears the game is a source of gambling.
Officials says the game has been prohibited indefinitely until its compatibility with Islamic law can be determined.
Atal Mashwani, the spokesman of the Taliban government’s sports directorate, says chess in Islamic sharia law is “considered a means of gambling”.
He says there are religious considerations regarding the sport of chess adding that until these considerations are addressed, the sport of chess is suspended in Afghanistan.