From ‘Sapiens’ to ‘The Book of Mormon’: The banned books the Taliban deems ‘deviant’ and ‘un-Islamic’
Hundreds of books removed from stores, libraries and universities in Afghanistan
- Taliban supreme leader Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada has issued a directive ordering the removal of "deviant" books from all institutions across Afghanistan.
- A committee involving four Taliban ministries has been formed to review books and refer any "suspicious content" to clerics for further scrutiny.
- Hundreds of titles, including classic literature, historical works, and books on women's rights or secular governance, have already been pulled from circulation.
- The Taliban justify the ban by claiming these books are "against national interests," "anti-Islam," or aim to "mislead and corrupt society," conflicting with Islamic and traditional Afghan values.
- Publishers report that the censorship process is often arbitrary, leading to a collapse in the publishing industry and restrictions on book imports.