Three of the four Afghans who left the country to play the Chess Olympiad are detained in Kabul and face uncertain fate
29 September 2026 at 18:36
Three of the four Afghans who left their country to compete last week in the Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, were detained at the border on Monday when they returned to Afghanistan, where chess is banned by the Taliban government. The players are under house arrest in Kabul and face penalties that could include corporal punishment. The fourth player has been able to return home without reprisals.