KABUL: The Taliban government in Afghanistan has imposed a ban on mixed martial arts (MMA), declaring the sport incompatible with Islamic law, its sports authority said in a statement on Wednesday, following an investigation conducted by the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice.
The Taliban’s sports authority stated that MMA was found to be problematic in terms of its adherence to sharia, or Islamic law. The official statement highlighted concerns about the sport’s violent nature and the risk of injury or death associated with it. “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 statement read.
Mixed martial arts, which combines elements from various combat sports such as boxing, wrestling, and jiu-jitsu, has been criticized by the Taliban authorities for its perceived violence. The sports authority official said that the decision was motivated by concerns over the sport’s potential for causing physical harm.
The ban on MMA could have significant implications for Afghan athletes and sports enthusiasts. Martial arts have been popular in Afghanistan, with several Afghan athletes competing in international events. Notably, four of the 11 Afghan participants at the Paris Olympics were martial artists.
Despite its global popularity and the fact that it is not an Olympic sport, MMA has faced scrutiny due to safety concerns and its contentious nature in various cultures. The sport’s global status remains debated, with critics citing the risks associated with its full-contact nature.
