Smartphones Outlawed in Schools Across Taliban’s Afghan Stronghold

A new prohibition on smartphones in schools has been implemented by Taliban officials in southern Afghanistan, as confirmed by students and teachers to AFP on Wednesday. This measure arises from concerns regarding “focus” and adherence to “Islamic law.”

Enforced by the provincial Education Department in Kandahar, the ban targets students, teachers, and administrative staff in both public and religious schools.

According to the statement, “This action is intended to promote educational discipline and focus,” claiming that smartphones lead to “the deterioration of the future generation” from a “sharia perspective.”

The policy has already been enacted across the province’s educational institutions, sparking mixed reactions among educators and pupils.

Saeed Ahmad, a 22-year-old teacher, remarked to AFP, “We didn’t bring any smartphones to school today,” adding, “I believe this is a beneficial decision for improving concentration on studies.”

Meanwhile, an 11th-grade student named Mohammad Anwar stated, “The teachers have warned that they will begin searching students if anyone is caught with a phone.”

In contrast, a 12th-grade student, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed concern that the ban would impede learning, particularly in a nation where girls are prohibited from attending secondary schools and universities—a situation the UN has classified as “gender apartheid.” He explained, “Often, I take pictures of the lessons written on the board to study later. Now, that’s no longer an option. This policy will negatively impact our education.”

‘Total Ban’

The ban has also been instituted in madrassas, or religious schools.

Mohammad, a 19-year-old madrassa student, stated, “There’s now a complete ban. No one brings smartphones anymore.”

In recent years, several countries, including France, Denmark, and Brazil, have also moved towards restricting mobile phones in classrooms.

The Taliban leadership has previously introduced a ban on images of living beings in media, with several provinces announcing restrictions; some Taliban officials have even declined to be photographed or filmed.

Recently, the Taliban’s Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada urged officials and scholars to limit their smartphone usage.

One unnamed 28-year-old member of the security forces told AFP, “This is what our leaders have ordered, and we must comply.” He mentioned switching to a basic phone, stating, “I used to use WhatsApp occasionally on my smartphone, but not anymore.”

In Kandahar, some Taliban officials have begun distributing their numbers for basic phones and are disabling online messaging applications.