British Library rejects Taliban archive

The British Library in London has declined to store a large collection of Taliban-related documents over concerns regarding breach of terrorism laws.
The collection, related to the Afghan Taliban, includes official newspapers, maps and radio broadcasts.
The British Library said it feared it could be in breach of counter-terrorism laws and had been legally advised not to make the material accessible.
"Although the archive was recognised as being of research value, it was judged that it contained some material which could contravene the Terrorism Act, and which would present restrictions on the Library's ability to provide access to the archive for researchers," a library spokesperson said.

Alex Strick van Linschoten, an author and researcher who helped spearhead the Afghan project, said it was "surprising and disappointing".
"There's no recipes for making bombs or anything like that," he said.

The project, which was launched in 2012 and included members of the library on its advisory board, has digitised the material and translated it into English.
The British Library said it had been in discussion over whether to acquire material from the project and give access to the archive but it had been legally advised not to.
The UK's Terrorism Acts of 2000 and 2006 make it an offence to "collect material which could be used by a person committing or preparing for an act of terrorism" and criminalise the "circulation of terrorist publications".

The UK Home Office declined to comment.