Tarz Press: Reading culture in Afghanistan has always been influenced by the ruling political ideologies, deeply affecting the choice of books and reading habits. This has prevented the proper establishment of a reading culture and stunted its growth.
Although precise data on reading habits in Afghanistan is unavailable, the former government’s Ministry of Information and Culture reported that the average reading time was only half a minute per day. This alarming statistic indicates that most readers reside in a few major cities, while in many regions, people remain largely unfamiliar with the concept of reading.
Outside of major cities like Kabul, Herat, and Mazar-i-Sharif, there is a significant shortage of libraries and bookstores, further limiting the spread of reading culture beyond a few urban centers. This situation clearly shows that public awareness on various issues remains underdeveloped, contributing to a lack of social knowledge.
Over the past two decades, there had been positive changes in the reading culture, especially among young people who showed increasing interest in books. However, after the Taliban regained control, field studies and statistics reveal a renewed decline in interest in books and reading.
Taliban Policies and Their Impact on Reading
The Taliban’s perspective on books, reading, and publishing is one of the main reasons for the decline in reading habits in Afghanistan. Since retaking power, the Taliban have organized competitions under the title “Emirate Knowledge,” which they claim aim to “promote the culture of reading.”
These competitions revolve around questions from a book of the same title written by Abdul Sattar Saeed, a member of the Taliban. Over the past three years, no other books have been used in these competitions, nor have participants been encouraged to read anything outside of Taliban literature.
Cultural activists believe that these competitions are in fact an effort by the Taliban to spread their ideology rather than promote reading. This approach, under the guise of promoting reading, risks exposing future generations to Taliban ideology.
Taliban Actions Against Publishing
Despite the Taliban’s claims of promoting a reading culture, over the past three years, they have implemented measures to suppress the printing, publishing, and sale of books. They have banned books by various authors, particularly those from the Shia community, removing them from the market.
The Taliban have also restricted the importation of religious books by Afghan migrants and pilgrims, with some of these books reportedly being burned. These restrictions have led to the closure of many bookstores and a significant slowdown in the book market.
Currently, Kabul’s book market is remarkably quiet, and bookstores are experiencing unprecedented stagnation. Booksellers believe that the Taliban’s restrictions have had a severely negative impact on the reading culture, which continues to decline daily.
Overall, the Taliban’s policies and actions in the realm of reading culture not only weaken it but also pose a serious threat to free thinking and public awareness in Afghan society.
