Atiqullah Azizi, the Taliban's Deputy Minister of Information and Culture, has justified the collection and confiscation of books from Afghan libraries and bookstores, targeting books that allegedly spread "poison" among the people.
During the inauguration of the 'Book Protection Assembly' on Tuesday, Azizi announced the removal of books leading to "intellectual deviation and corruption" from bookstores.
He directed booksellers to discard books that undermine unity, alter religious beliefs, or corrupt the mindset of readers.
Azizi stressed that the ministry's aim is not to censor or ban books outright, but to prevent the publication of materials causing "linguistic, cultural, and religious" problems within the community.
Recent reports indicate that the Taliban has stepped up efforts to regulate the publishing and sale of books. Authorities have been visiting bookstores with a list of "banned books”, seizing works by various Afghan authors, including those of researcher Mujib Rahman Rahimi, who addresses topics like the Afghan political system, national identity, and religious reform.
The Taliban has also formed a Book Evaluation Commission, which has stopped the publication of numerous books and previously prohibited the purchase, sale, and reprint of over 100 titles from libraries.
Following their return to power, the Taliban has raised taxes on Afghan publishers and increased Customs duties on book imports, further tightening their grip on the country's cultural and intellectual landscape.
