Playing with Plastic Guns Banned in Afghanistan

After children's play in Afghanistan with plastic toys resembling Kalashnikov rifles resulted in over 100 injuries during Eid al-Fitr, officials in the country decided to ban the sale and use of these toys. According to the German news agency, officials from Afghanistan's Ministry of Health reported that during the three days of Eid al-Fitr celebrations, playing with plastic guns that shoot plastic pellets caused injuries to at least 116 children, with most injuries occurring to the children's eyes. The British newspaper The Guardian also states that the ban on these toys in Afghanistan is 'part of the efforts by the country's officials to prevent the spread of a culture of violence among children.' Playing with plastic weapons has become increasingly common during Eid al-Fitr in recent years, and social activists and parents blame the culture of violence that has developed during years of war in the country for this trend. According to The Guardian, children in Afghanistan often use their pocket money, traditionally received from their parents during Eid al-Fitr, to buy plastic Kalashnikovs and toy guns. In this context, Noorullah Haq Olomi, Afghanistan's Minister of Interior, announced in a statement that 'we have instructed the police to collect all toy weapons that could lead to physical and psychological harm.' Reports indicate that this decision by the Afghan government has been well-received on social media, where there have also been calls for the collection of real weapons from citizens.