Dr. Mujib Rahman Rahimi, a politician and researcher, recently had his works confiscated during the Taliban’s attack on publishing houses and bookstores in Kabul. He expressed his concerns on Facebook, emphasizing the Taliban’s limited ability to control information dissemination in the digital age.
Formerly a spokesperson for Abdullah Abdullah, head of Afghanistans High Council for National Reconciliation, Rahimi authored works such as “A Critique of the Structure of the Afghan System” and “State Formation in Afghanistan: A Theoretical and Political History.”
Reports also indicate that Naser Maqsoudi, head of Maqsoudi Publications, was severely beaten by Taliban members for opposing the collection and confiscation of books. Also, Taliban forces stormed National Market bookstores in Pul-e-Sokhta, taking away numerous books.
The Taliban’s Ministry of Higher Education previously ordered the collection of non-religious and belief-influencing books from university libraries. Publishers and booksellers are now required to register their details with the Taliban intelligence department, adding to the challenges and restrictions faced by the publishing and education sectors in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.