While Kazakhstan's top Islamic authority recently issued a religious ruling declaring popular video games like GTA, Counter-Strike 2, and Dota 2 “haram,” or forbidden under Islamic law, Tajikistan has already taken a harder stance—banning some of these titles outright.
In response to a query from the news outlet Kursiv, Kazakhstan's Spiritual Administration of Muslims (SAMK) declared that any form of media containing violence, murder, warfare, blasphemy, or mockery of religion does not conform to Islamic principles. Gambling mechanics, common in many modern games, were also criticized. Citing the Quran, the SAMK warned that such content encourages sinful behavior.
Based on these criteria, games such as Grand Theft Auto, Counter-Strike 2, and Dota 2 were labeled religiously inappropriate due to their perceived immorality, violent content, and potential psychological harm.
However, the ruling from SAMK is advisory, not legally binding. It does not constitute a state-imposed ban, and the games remain legally accessible in Kazakhstan.
Tajikistan takes legal action
In contrast, Tajikistan has already moved to ban these games from public venues. In October 2024, the Interior Ministry’s Office in Dushanbe officially prohibited GTA and Counter-Strike in the capital's internet cafés and gaming centers. The decision was based on a Ministry of Culture review that classified the games as promoting violence, crime, and immorality.
Police officials cited concerns that exposure to such content could increase aggressive behavior among teenagers and lead to real-world offenses. As a preventive measure, authorities have committed to regular inspections of gaming clubs to prevent the spread of harmful content among youth.
Efforts to shield minors from the influence of violent digital entertainment are not new in Tajikistan. Back in 2017, Dushanbe Mayor Rustam Emomali implemented a citywide curfew for teenagers, banning their visits to entertainment venues during nighttime hours as part of a broader youth crime prevention initiative.
While Kazakhstan is currently offering religious guidance on the issue, Tajikistan is already enforcing strict regulatory measures to curb the presence of controversial games.
