As World Book Day arrives, recent reports highlight a severe recession in the book market and reading culture across Afghanistan. Cultural officials of the Taliban government say they have banned dozens of book titles for allegedly lacking standard criteria.
Booksellers in Herat province complain about the dire economic situation, noting that poverty forces people to sell their personal books at incredibly low prices. Even a university professor was compelled to auction off his valuable personal library just to survive.
Despite these tough restrictions and financial struggles, a strong passion for reading remains visible among young girls. Many female students deprived of formal education consider reading novels and borrowed books as their only safe refuge.
#Books #Afghanistan #Culture
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