Taliban Bans MMA in Afghanistan, Leaving Fighters in Limbo

Late last month, the Taliban imposed a ban on professional mixed martial arts (MMA), citing the sport’s inherent "violence" and its supposed incompatibility with Islamic law.

Rabat – Late last month, the Taliban imposed a ban on professional mixed martial arts (MMA), citing the sport’s inherent “violence” and its supposed incompatibility with Islamic law.

This latest restriction highlights the ongoing shifts in Afghanistan since the Taliban reclaimed control in 2021.

“I couldn’t believe it when I first heard MMA was banned in Afghanistan,” 21-year-old Khalil Rahman told AFP.

Rahman had aspired to improve Afghanistan’s global standing through international MMA competitions.

But with professional fights now prohibited, he and his fellow trainees at a private gym in eastern Kabul face an uncertain and blurry future in the octagonal cage.

Despite the ban on professional MMA matches, training and amateur competitions with protective gear are still allowed.

However, MMA enthusiasts are grappling with confusion due to the lack of clarity in the order issued by the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice.

Mohammad Waseem Qayumi, a trainee alongside Khalil Rahman, remains optimistic about continuing the sport at an amateur level.

“When MMA was banned, I was initially disheartened,” Qayumi said, wiping sweat from his brow after a rigorous training session. “But if free fighting without safety gear is banned, I’ll continue practicing with protective equipment.”

Under the current Taliban regime, Afghanistan’s athletes face several restrictions.

Women have been prohibited from engaging in sports, while male athletes must cover their bodies from the navel to the knee under new morality regulations.

Just last month, the Taliban implemented stringent new regulations aimed at controlling women’s behavior, which they justify as efforts to promote “virtue” and prevent “vice.”

Under these new laws, women are required to cover themselves completely in public and are prohibited from speaking, singing, or reading aloud.

Approved by Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, these measures are enforced by the recently created Ministry for the “Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice.”