The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for the supreme leader of the Taliban and the head of Afghanistan’s Supreme Court for their involvement in persecuting women and girls since taking control almost four years ago.
The warrants specifically accuse the leaders of targeting individuals who do not adhere to the Taliban’s gender policies, as well as those perceived as allies of women and girls on political grounds.
Hibatullah Akhunzada, the supreme leader of the Taliban, and Abdul Hakim Haqqani, the head of the Supreme Court, are named in the warrants. The court’s statement highlights that the Taliban have restricted the rights of girls and women through various decrees, including curtailing education, privacy, family life, and freedom of movement, expression, thought, conscience, and religion. Additionally, individuals faced persecution based on their sexuality and gender identity, which conflicted with the Taliban’s policies on gender.
Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan initiated the warrant requests in January, acknowledging the severe and ongoing persecution faced by Afghan women, girls, and the LGBTQI+ community under the Taliban.
Human Rights Watch expressed support for the ICC’s decision, emphasizing the importance of holding senior Taliban leaders accountable for their alleged persecution of women, girls, and gender non-conforming individuals. The group urged the international community to fully support the ICC’s efforts in Afghanistan and globally to enforce the warrants.