Kabul: The Taliban is strengthening its control over books in Kabul, targeting bookstores and publishing houses with a list of banned titles, as reported by Khaama Press.
Prominent politician and researcher, Mujib Rahman Rahimi, fell victim to the Taliban’s recent assault on publishing establishments. His works were confiscated during the attacks on bookstores, with Rahimi expressing his dismay on his official Facebook page. He emphasized that the Taliban fails to recognize the futility of attempting to curb information dissemination and book publication in the era of the internet and the information revolution.
Before serving as the spokesperson for Abdullah Abdullah, the head of Afghanistan’s High Council for National Reconciliation, Rahimi was renowned as the author of books such as “A Critique of the Structure of the Afghan System” and “State Formation in Afghanistan: A Theoretical and Political History.”
Recent events reveal that Taliban security forces forcefully detained an employee of Vajeh Publishing house and bookstore. Additionally, reports indicate that Naser Maqsoudi, the head of Maqsoudi Publications, was severely beaten by Taliban members on Thursday due to his opposition to the collection and confiscation of books.
Notably, the Taliban’s Ministry of Higher Education had previously prohibited the inclusion of non-religious books and those influencing people’s beliefs in university libraries, according to Khaama Press. The tightening grip on literature raises concerns about freedom of expression and access to diverse information in Afghanistan.
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