Afghanistan: Toy guns banned to curb culture of violence amongst children

Afghanistan banned the sale of toy guns on 21 July after several hundred children were reportedly injured during the Eid celebrations.

The news comes as the country tries to discourage a culture of violence amongst children.

"Interior Minister Noor-ul Haq Uloomi has ordered police forces to confiscate all toy guns ... which can lead to physical and psychological damage among people," read a Ministry of Public Health statement, reported AFP News.

The guns armed with plastic or rubber pellets caused over 100 eye injuries amongst children during the recent three days of Eid al-Fitr celebrations in the capital Kabul.

More than 150 children admitted in hospitals due to the injuries caused by the toy gun on Eid in Kabul Afghanistan.
— SafiWardak (@Safiwardak) July 20, 2015

A Ministry of Public Health official, Dr. Syed Kabir Amiri said, reported Khaama Press that most of the injured children were discharged from the Noor Eye hospital after receiving treatment.

Children are known to spend their 'Eidi' – a token of money given to children from elders during the Eid celebrations, on buying toy guns in the country.

Nearly every child I have seen in the past two days has been holding a toy gun bought with their Eid money. Its obscene. #Afghanistan
— سميرة‎ (@SamiraaSR) July 29, 2014

Hamid Karzai's seven-year-old son asked for a toy gun. Instead, Karzai offered him a calligraphy kit. @ksieff Intvw http://t.co/T4kvhHRIwC
— Niklas Schenck (@niklasschenck) March 4, 2014

#Afghanchildren mostly are interested to buy gun toys for playing from toy sellers, it shows impacts of war. #BegoneTaliban #Afghanistan
— raziya masumi (@raziyamasumi) July 15, 2015

#Kabul, #Afghanistan: a girl plays with a toy gun during celebrations for #Nowruz http://t.co/H1Ec8DGVR1 #photography pic.twitter.com/kPbbC0K08l
— Simone Zoppellaro (@S_Zoppellaro) March 23, 2015