Taliban bans hundreds of books and curricula: Even books by Islamic thinkers were not spared

The Taliban regime in Afghanistan is reshaping education and culture. Hundreds of books and curricula have been banned in the country's universities and libraries under the pretext of establishing an education system consistent with Islamic Sharia and Afghan values. On the one hand, the political and ideological message is becoming clear around this move, while on the other hand, a major crisis is being created in the education system and publishing industry.

Background to the book ban

The Taliban began controlling education and culture since returning to power in 2021. In 2024, a list published in the Kabul library banned 400 books for the first time, which included democracy, women's rights, Shiite doctrine, and the biography of resistance leader Ahmad Shah Massoud.

In July 2025, a plan to control books was adopted at a joint meeting of the Ministries of Religious Guidance, Hajj and Religious Affairs, Information and Culture, and Higher Education. A 14-member committee was formed under the orders of Taliban supreme leader Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada to review books nationwide. Minister of Religious Affairs Nur Mohammad Saqib said, “This initiative is to remove all books that are against Islam and Afghan values.”

Banned subjects

The Taliban government has announced that 18 subjects have been completely banned. These include—

Islamic political movements

Afghanistan’s constitutional law

History of religion

Sociology of women

The role of women in public relations

Good governance and electoral system

Gender and development

Human rights and democracy

Globalization and moral philosophy

These subjects were previously taught compulsorily in the faculties of law, political science and sociology in the country’s universities.

Books by Islamic thinkers are also banned

Incredibly, the books of many influential Islamic thinkers have been included in the banned list. These include—

Syed Abul Ala Maududi's Quran Ki Char Baniyadi Istilahi

Syed Qutb's Social Justice in Islam

Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahhab Najdi's Kitab At-Tawhid

Jamaluddin Afghani's works on reform

The works of Abdullah Azzam, Yusuf al-Qaradawi and Ali Shariati

In addition, Afghan writers Nasrullah Stankzai, Zakia Adeli, Abdur Rahman Salim and many others have come under this ban.

Western literature also excluded

The Taliban have also banned many popular Western works. These include—

Yuval Noah Harari's Sapiens

Dante's Divine Comedy

Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet

Bruce J. Cohen's Introduction to Sociology

George Ritzer's Contemporary Sociological Theory

A Special Look at Iranian Writers

According to published information, about 310 books by Iranian writers have been banned. The Taliban authorities claim that they are related to Shiite ideology. According to experts, this decision was also taken for political reasons due to tensions with Iran over water sharing and refugee issues.

Impact on education and publishing industry

The ban is having a huge impact on the education sector in Afghanistan. Alternative textbooks have not yet been prepared in universities, which is disrupting learning and teaching. A university official in Kabul said, "In such a situation, students are being cut off from international knowledge."

In addition, the publishing industry is also being affected. Books brought from Iran are often stopped at the border.

Taliban message

Taliban authorities claim that their goal is to expand “Sharia-based education.” According to analysts, this move carries not only an educational policy, but also a political message. They want to tell the world that only their interpretation of Islam will work in Afghanistan.