Taliban bans MMA in Afghanistan, terming it 'too violent' and 'incompatibile with Islamic law'

The ruling Taliban government in Afghanistan has banned mixed martial arts (MMA) after terming it too violent and incompatible with Islamic law on Tuesday (Aug 27). The news was confirmed by a government official while speaking to local broadcaster TOLOnews. It comes after the Taliban's Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice passed an order regarding the same.

MMA banned in Afghanistan

"It was found that the sport is problematic with respect to Sharia and it has many aspects which are contradictory to the teachings of Islam," the Taliban's General Directorate on Physical Education and Sport said in a statement sent to the AFP news agency.

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"That’s why this decision has been made."

The MMA has not been officially recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) due to safety concerns. The craze for MMA has grown in Afghanistan in the last two decades, particularly among youngsters. However ever since the Taliban returned to power in 2021 in Afghanistan competitions were effectively outlawed for "face-punching".

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According to MMA publications, some fighters also complained of threats and harassment from Taliban officials. Despite garnering popularity in the nation, most MMA fighters left the nation due to the possible restrictions that could be imposed on them for promoting the event.

Four of the 11 Afghans who competed in sports at the Paris Games, on either the national or the Refugee Olympic teams, were originally martial arts athletes.

The Mixed Martial Arts Federation was founded in 2008, while the Afghanistan Fighting Championship (AFC) and Truly Grand Fighting Championship (TGFC) held dozens of fights.

(With inputs from agencies)