ICC Seeks Arrest Warrants for Taliban Leaders Over Gender Persecution

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has announced it is seeking arrest warrants for two senior Taliban leaders, Haibatullah Akhundzada and Abdul Hakim Haqqani, over accusations of crimes against humanity related to the widespread persecution of women and girls in Afghanistan. ICC prosecutor Karim Khan emphasized that there are reasonable grounds to believe both leaders bear criminal responsibility for these gender-based crimes, which have persisted since the Taliban's takeover in August 2021. Human rights advocates have hailed this move as a crucial step towards accountability for the systematic violations of women's rights under Taliban rule. The ICC's request will now be considered by a panel of judges, a process that could take several months. Khan noted that the Taliban's interpretation of sharia law cannot justify human rights abuses, including those against the LGBTQI+ community. This action marks a significant development in international efforts to address gender-based violence and discrimination in Afghanistan.