Afghanistan’s Taliban government has issued a ban on mixed martial arts (MMA), citing its incompatibility with Islamic law. The decision was announced by the country’s sports authority, following an investigation by the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice.
The investigation determined that MMA violates Islamic law, or Sharia, based on its perceived violence and potential for injury or death. The Taliban government’s sports authority stated in a statement sent to AFP, “It was found that the sport is problematic with respect to sharia and it has many aspects which are contradictory to the teachings of Islam.”
This decision comes as part of the Taliban’s strict interpretation of Islamic law since their return to power in 2021. The government has recently formalized many rules regarding behavior and dress through a morality law, including a requirement for men to wear pants that extend below the knee.
The ban on MMA is particularly notable considering the sport’s popularity in Afghanistan. Four of the eleven Afghan athletes who competed at the Paris Games, either on the national or Refugee Olympic teams, were martial arts practitioners.
While MMA has yet to be recognized as an Olympic sport, largely due to safety concerns, its popularity in Afghanistan and the Taliban’s decision to ban it highlights the group’s strict adherence to their interpretation of Islamic law and its impact on the country’s sporting landscape.
