Taliban Issues List of 400 Banned Books to Libraries

The Taliban has distributed a list of 400 banned books to libraries in Kabul, prohibiting their sale and mandating the removal of works deemed incompatible with Taliban principles, Amu TV reported yesterday.

The banned titles encompass a wide range of subjects, including Shia Islam, modern governance, political freedoms, and certain notable resistance leaders.

Library managers reported that Taliban officials have instructed them to stock books aligning with the Taliban’s ideology. One bookseller stated, “We have been given a list by the government with several books that are now banned, making their sale illegal.” This has left book enthusiasts disappointed and has resulted in financial losses for sellers.

The Taliban aims to prevent materials that could alter mindsets from an Islamic perspective and is promoting selected literature instead. Enforcement has already begun, with the Taliban collecting banned books and warning against future sales. Booksellers fear that serious crackdowns could commence as early as November, citing “Sharia matters” as the justification for the ban.