'To Stop Destruction Of Future Generation': Taliban Bans Smartphones In Afghan Schools

7 months ago 14

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Last Updated:June 18, 2025, 23:27 IST

The order prohibits students, teachers and administrative staff from bringing smartphones onto school grounds.

The ban also extends to madrassas or Islamic religious schools.(Representative image)

Taliban authorities in southern Afghanistan enforced a strict ban on smartphones in all schools and madrassas in Kandahar province, citing the need for educational discipline and adherence to Islamic principles.

The order, issued by the provincial Education Department, prohibits students, teachers and administrative staff from bringing smartphones onto school grounds. The decision, according to a statement, was made from a “sharia perspective" and aims to prevent what officials described as the “destruction of the future generation."

Saeed Ahmad, a 22-year-old teacher, said as per AFP, “We did not bring smartphones with us to school today. I think this is a good decision so that there is more focus on studies."

However, students raised concerns that the move could hinder learning, particularly in a country where girls are banned from secondary and university education, drawing international condemnation.

Taliban Discourages Use Of Smartphones

The ban also extends to madrassas or Islamic religious schools. The crackdown aligns with broader Taliban efforts to curb access to visual media and digital tools. Taliban has previously restricted the use of images of living beings in media and discouraged official communications via smartphones. Some Taliban officials in Kandahar are now reportedly sharing alternative numbers for basic phones and disconnecting from online messaging apps. Even members of the security forces have been instructed to comply.

The decision echoes moves in countries like France, Denmark and Brazil, where mobile phones have been restricted in classrooms.