KABUL — Taliban have distributed a list of 400 banned books to libraries in Kabul, prohibiting their sale and mandating the removal of any works deemed incompatible with Taliban principles, according to librarians and booksellers
The banned books reportedly cover a wide range of subjects, including those related to the Shia branch of Islam, modern governance, political freedoms, and figures like Ahmad Shah Massoud, a prominent resistance leader. Titles exploring democracy, social and civil rights, art, literature, and poetry are also among those targeted.
Library managers told Amu TV that Taliban officials have instructed them to stock books that align with the Taliban’s ideology. “We have been given a list by the government with several books that are now banned, making their sale illegal,” a bookseller in Kabul said. “Book enthusiasts who come looking for these titles are left disappointed, and we have suffered financially due to this restriction.”
A library official shared that the Taliban’s aim is to “prevent any materials that could change mindsets or mislead individuals from an Islamic perspective.” The official added that the Taliban is promoting selected books for public libraries instead.
Librarians say that enforcement has already begun, with the Taliban collecting banned books and warning against future sales. Booksellers expressed concerns over financial losses due to the ban and fear that serious crackdowns could start as early as November. Taliban representatives have cited “Sharia matters” as the basis for the ban, according to booksellers, while emphasizing their intent to introduce Taliban-approved literature across Afghan libraries.
