Head of Maqsudi Publications attacked over book confiscation dispute

Sources report that Taliban forces severely beat Naser Maqsudi, the head of Maqsudi Publications, on Wednesday due to his opposition to the collection and confiscation of books.

According to the report, Taliban members took Mr. Maqsudi with them after the beating and later released him.

The report states that Taliban members stormed the bookshops at the Kabul National Market and confiscated numerous books.

Recently, the Taliban’s Ministry of Information and Culture added a significant number of books to the list of prohibited materials and demanded that bookstores collect them.

Earlier, in December 2023, the Taliban’s Ministry of Higher Education ordered private educational institutions in Afghanistan to remove prohibited books from their libraries.

According to a letter from this ministry, books that are “contrary to Hanafi jurisprudence, political, and books that create intellectual problems” should be removed from libraries.

Since the Taliban regime assumed control of Afghanistan, they have imposed severe restrictions on the education of women and girls. These restrictions include banning education beyond the sixth grade, closing universities, prohibiting access to public baths and parks, and more recently, detaining girls for dress code violations and confiscating books from private universities and libraries.

These measures have sparked international concern and condemnation, as they represent a significant setback for the rights and opportunities of women and girls in Afghanistan, severely limiting their access to education and public spaces.

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