Taliban bans martial arts in Afghanistan

The Taliban government in Afghanistan has banned the combat sport Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), an official told broadcaster TOLOnews on Tuesday.

Ahmadullah Wasiq, the head of the physical education and sports department, said that the country’s morality police banned the full-contact sport due to its violent nature and potential risk of death.

MMA, a popular sport among Afghan youth, is not an Olympic sport since it has not met all the criteria set by the International Olympic Committee, mainly due to safety concerns.

On Thursday, the Taliban government ratified the Law on the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, which was criticised by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).

The law, among other requirements, enforced dress codes and behaviour for both men and women.

The Taliban government defended the newly approved morality law as a reflection of Islamic values and principles.

On Monday, Taliban chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid dismissed concerns raised by the UNAMA and others as unfounded.

“It is the responsibility of every Muslim and Islamic government to promote good and forbid evil,” Mujahid said.

The Taliban spokesman urged non-Muslims to understand Islamic values before expressing reservations or objections.

The statement emphasises that the law will be enforced justly and equitably.

The UN diplomatic mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has called the law a “distressing vision for Afghanistan’s future.”

According to UNAMA, the law imposes severe restrictions on personal conduct, particularly affecting women and girls, and provides morality police with broad enforcement powers.

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