Like an absurd evocation of Ray Bradburythe Taliban appear to be reprinting Fahrenheit 451that dystopian novel in which a forbidden tyranny is books burned to suppress dissenting ideas.
This week, Islamic totalitarianism in Afghanistan, which forcibly seized power two years ago, ordered to withdraw and eliminate all those books contrary to Islam and to the “interests” of the country, including those that promote secularism or “immorality”.
“There are still hundreds of books on the market that are written against Islam, against Islamic principles or whatever promote other ideologies such as secularism (not religious)”, argued the director of the Afghan Ministry of Information and Culture, the Taliban Abdulhaq Hemad, trying to justify the devastating measure.
In addition to the religious issue, fundamentalists frown on works whose contents are not regulated by the morality they promote. “There are also some books that lead to the immorality of young peopleHemad told Afghan news network Tolo News.
As is obvious, in a dictatorship everyone responds to orders out of fear of reprisals. Quickly, publishers delivered thousands of books with alleged content harmful to the Afghan people, so that the authorities could burn them, like the dark Fahrenheit 451 firefighters.
The Union of Afghan Publishers and Booksellers has also joined the wave of censorship decreed by the Taliban. Sayed Ahmad Saeed, secretary general of the union, said they will take all necessary steps to do so prevent the circulation of this type of content. His goal, he explained, is to prevent the escalation of unnecessary political tensions.
“If books are published which increase national tension, political problems and controversies, which lead the nation into crisis, we will try not to repost themSaid said.
The return to power of the Taliban in 2021 wiped out the tepid progress made in recent years in terms of the rights and freedoms of Afghan civil society.
Hardest hit were once again women, who were banned from studying and relegated to domestic ostracism.
But what is disturbing is that Bradbury, in 1953, sensed the future so clearly.
Source: Clarin
Mary Ortiz is a seasoned journalist with a passion for world events. As a writer for News Rebeat, she brings a fresh perspective to the latest global happenings and provides in-depth coverage that offers a deeper understanding of the world around us.