Three Afghans arrested in Kabul for playing in the Chess Olympiad: ‘We feel afraid, our situation is unsustainable’
6 October 2026 at 16:39
Anxiety hangs over the three Afghans who have been under house arrest for a week after traveling to Samarkand, Uzbekistan, to compete in the Chess Olympiad. The players were arrested upon their return to Afghanistan, where chess is banned. Khaiber Farazi, Habibullah Amini and Habibullah Guldoost are awaiting punishment from the Taliban authorities, though there are grounds for hope: EL PAÍS has learned that the International Chess Federation (FIDE), the European Parliament and the Spanish government are all working to support them.