Taliban Bans Mixed Martial Arts in Afghanistan

The Taliban has officially banned mixed martial arts (MMA) in Afghanistan, citing the sport's incompatibility with Islamic law and its potential risk of injury or death. The decision, announced by the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, followed an investigation that deemed MMA 'problematic with respect to sharia.' This ban aligns with the Taliban's broader restrictions on personal freedoms, including recent decrees prohibiting women from showing their faces in public. Since regaining power in 2021, the Taliban has enforced a strict interpretation of Islamic law, affecting various aspects of life in Afghanistan. The MMA community in Afghanistan, which was gaining popularity prior to the Taliban's resurgence, has largely been dismantled, with many athletes leaving the country. This ban adds to the challenges faced by Afghan athletes, both domestically and among the diaspora, who seek to rebuild their lives amid oppressive conditions.