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The Taliban's Campaign Against Science and Intellectual Freedom

Contents

    Introduction

    Banning of Books by the Taliban

    Taliban Restrictions on Contraceptive Pills in Afghanistan

    Conclusion


Introduction

Since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in August 2021, the country has undergone profound political and social changes. Numerous human rights organizations, journalists, and international observers have documented a steady expansion of restrictions affecting education, freedom of expression, women's rights, religious minorities, and access to healthcare. These policies have not only transformed daily life for millions of Afghans but have also raised growing concerns about the future of academic freedom, scientific inquiry, and intellectual diversity within the country.

Among the measures and practices attributed to the Taliban are:

  • Banning women and girls from secondary and higher education.
  • Restricting women from working in many sectors.
  • Removing books from libraries that are considered politically or religiously unacceptable.
  • Restricting access to contraceptives through intimidation of pharmacies.
  • Conducting house searches and increasing surveillance of civilians.
  • Reports of kidnappings and forced disappearances of young women.
  • Systematic discrimination against Afghanistan's Shia minority.
  • Numerous additional restrictions affecting civil liberties and personal freedoms.

Banning of Books by the Taliban

Since returning to power, the Taliban has introduced extensive restrictions on educational institutions and the circulation of literature. Among the most controversial measures are the removal of books from university libraries and the censorship of works that conflict with the movement's religious or political views.

Afghanistan's Shia Muslims constitute approximately 15 percent of the country's population and represent its second-largest Islamic denomination after the Sunni majority. According to reports published in late 2023, the Taliban's Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice instructed private universities to remove books that "oppose the Hanafi jurisprudence or can foment opposition to its tenets." Libraries were reportedly ordered to remove publications associated with the Shi'ite tradition.

The campaign has extended beyond religious literature. Political and historical works have also reportedly been confiscated, including Pakistan's Role in the Bloody Tragedy of Afghanistan, The Taliban Project in Afghanistan, and Pashtun of Arab Origin from the Generation of Shia Imams. Critics argue that these measures reflect a broader effort to restrict access to alternative historical interpretations and political perspectives.

Afghan author Mujeeb Rahman Rahimi, whose books were reportedly among those confiscated, described the policy as "a direct attack on intellectual freedom." His statement reflects concerns shared by many academics, writers, and observers who argue that restricting access to diverse ideas weakens higher education and discourages independent scholarship.

(An elderly bookseller reading in his bookstore in Afghanistan. For many Afghans, books have long represented education, history, and the exchange of ideas—values increasingly challenged by censorship under Taliban rule.)

Video on the banning of books:

The removal of books from universities is therefore more than an act of censorship. It directly affects students, researchers, and educators by limiting academic resources and narrowing the range of perspectives available for study and debate. Such policies raise serious concerns about the future of scientific research, higher education, and intellectual freedom in Afghanistan.


Taliban Restrictions on Contraceptive Pills in Afghanistan

Access to reproductive healthcare has also become increasingly difficult under Taliban rule. Although the Taliban has not officially prohibited the use of contraceptives, multiple reports indicate that pharmacies have faced intimidation and pressure to stop selling birth control pills.

(Women wearing burqas while waiting for medical treatment at a hospital in Afghanistan. Restrictions affecting women's healthcare have raised concerns among medical professionals and human rights organizations.)

According to a report by Vanity Fair, Taliban representatives visited pharmacies in several parts of Afghanistan and instructed pharmacists to cease selling contraceptive pills. One pharmacist in Mazar-e-Sharif stated that although the order was presented as a recommendation, refusing such instructions was not considered a realistic option. He explained that following the visit, he sold his remaining stock through the black market.

The reported restrictions have significantly reduced women's access to reproductive healthcare. As legal supplies have become more difficult to obtain, demand on the black market has increased, leading to shortages and substantially higher prices. Health experts have warned that these conditions expose women to greater risks, including the use of counterfeit or low-quality medications and an increase in unsafe abortions.

The restrictions have also created new opportunities for cross-border smuggling. According to the report, contraceptive pills are increasingly being transported illegally from Pakistan into Afghanistan to meet growing demand. Some reports further indicate that children have become involved in these smuggling networks, illustrating the broader social consequences that can arise when access to essential healthcare products is severely restricted.


Conclusion

The Taliban's policies extend beyond changes in government or religious administration. Restrictions on education, literature, and reproductive healthcare collectively affect the free exchange of knowledge, access to scientific information, and the ability of individuals to make informed decisions about their lives.

The removal of books from universities limits academic debate and intellectual diversity, while barriers to reproductive healthcare restrict access to essential medical services. Together with broader limitations on women's rights, freedom of expression, and the treatment of religious minorities, these developments have prompted widespread concern among international organizations, scholars, and human rights advocates regarding the future of science, education, and intellectual freedom in Afghanistan.


Sources

Banning of books

Restriction of contraceptive pills

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