Teenage girls and women in Afghanistan are denied education. Afghanistan: ICC seeks arrest warrants for Taliban leaders over women’s persecution Human Rights
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has taken a historic step toward addressing the systemic repression of Afghan women, girls and LGBTQI+ people by the Taliban.
On Thursday, ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan filed a motion seeking arrest warrants for two senior Taliban officials: Supreme Leader Haibatullah Akhundzada and Supreme Court Chief Justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani.
Crimes Against Humanity
They are charged with crimes against humanity on the grounds of gender-based persecution under the court’s Rome Statute, which establishes the duty of each signatory state to exercise its criminal jurisdiction over individuals responsible for international crimes.
“These motions recognize that Afghan women and girls, as well as members of the LGBTQI+ community, face unprecedented, unimaginable and “The Taliban’s continued persecution,” Khan said in a statement.
Since taking power in Afghanistan in 2021, the Taliban have carried out a series of repressive measures that have deprived women of many of their rights. The Taliban have, among other things, banned women from working, visiting public places, and receiving education after the age of 12.
The ICC Prosecutor stressed that these acts constitute serious violations of women’s fundamental rights protected under international law, including physical autonomy, freedom of expression, and access to education.
Investigation into the allegations
This is the first time the ICC has issued arrest warrants against Afghans. Khan said the petitions were supported by a variety of evidence, including expert testimony, forensic reports and numerous orders issued by the de facto Afghan authorities.
The ICC’s Afghan team, led by Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shamim Khan and Special Adviser on Gender and Discrimination Crimes Lisa Davis, played a critical role in investigating these allegations.
The ICC alleges other serious crimes by the Taliban. “Perceived resistance or opposition to the Taliban has been and continues to be brutally suppressed through crimes including murder, imprisonment, torture, rape and other forms of sexual violence,” he said.
He stressed that the Taliban’s interpretation of Sharia – the Islamic legal system based on the Quran – cannot be used to justify violations of basic human rights.
The Resilience of Victims
“In filing these petitions, I wish to acknowledge the remarkable courage and resilience of the Afghan victims, as well as the witnesses who cooperated with the investigation,” Khan said. He stressed that the ICC would do everything to ensure that the victims were not forgotten.
The Prosecutor also expressed gratitude to Afghan civil society and international partners for their support.
Next Steps
The ICC Pre-Trial Chamber will now determine whether the applications for arrest warrants provide reasonable grounds to believe that the individuals involved committed the alleged crimes.
Khan also announced that further applications against other senior Taliban leaders are expected.