Taliban government reimposes chess ban in Afghanistan
The Taliban cling to the argument that the game involves gambling (prohibited by the Quran), a justification previously used by Iranian Ayatollah Khomeini — who reversed his stance in 1988
Anisa Yousaf, survivor of a forced marriage: ‘Parents should give their daughters freedom of choice’
A Pakistani court ruling declared the arrangement orchestrated by her father from Barcelona and against her will illegal
The toll of Taliban laws on Afghan women’s mental health: ‘I break down at night on my prayer mat. Every day, the morality police insult me’
Omid Sobhani|Kabul|
The new vice rules have led to a spike in depression, anxiety, and suicide attempts. According to a U.N. report, 68% of women rate their mental health as ‘bad’ or ‘very bad,’ linking their distress to the ‘systematic’ removal of women from public life