Taliban Strengthens Grip on Bookshops and Publishing Enterprises in Afghanistan: Report

Explore the impact of Taliban censorship on literature in Kabul. Learn about raids on bookstores, arrests, and challenges to freedom of expression in Afghanistan

on Jan 18, 2024

Taliban Strengthens Grip on Bookshops and Publishing Enterprises in Afghanistan: Report | Frontlist

The Taliban is increasing its grip over literature in Kabul. They went to bookstores with a list of banned literature and seized works by Afghan authors, according to Khaama Press.

The Taliban took the publications of Mujib Rahman Rahimi, a politician and researcher, during their recent attack on Kabul's publishing firms and bookstores.

On his personal Facebook page, he said, "The Taliban do not realise that in the age of the internet, the information revolution, and the decline of the control and authority of governments and oppressive systems over information, publications, books, scientific articles, etc., they cannot stop information dissemination and book publication."

Mujib Rahimi, a former spokesperson for Afghanistan's High Council for National Reconciliation, has written books such as "A Critique of the Structure of the Afghan System," "State Formation in Afghanistan: A Theoretical and Political History," and others.

Last Monday, Taliban security agents detained an employee of the Vajeh Publishing House and Bookstore. Qasim Farzam, the chief of publications at Vajeh Publishing, stated that the Taliban had violently arrested one of their coworkers.

Meanwhile, sources say that Taliban fighters severely beat Naser Maqsoudi, the head of Maqsoudi Publications, on Thursday because he opposed collecting and removing books.

It was stated that Taliban fighters raided the National Market bookstores in Pul-e-Sokhta, stealing several volumes.

According to Khaama Press, the Taliban's Ministry of Higher Education has earlier ordered that non-religious publications and those influencing people's beliefs be removed from university libraries.

Book publishers stated that all publishers and booksellers were compelled to register all facts about their publications and bookstores on forms provided by the Taliban intelligence department, which were then stamped and signed before being delivered to the Taliban intelligence office.

These episodes highlight the continued obstacles and constraints facing publishing and education in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, raising concerns about freedom of expression and access to knowledge, according to Khaama Press.