ICC Proposes Arrest Warrants for Taliban Leaders Over Gender-Based Crimes

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The International Criminal Court (ICC) has sought arrest warrants for Taliban supreme leader Haibatullah Akhundzada and chief justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani, alleging their involvement in systematic persecution of women and girls in Afghanistan constitutes crimes against humanity. ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan emphasized that this marks a significant focus on gender-based crimes within the court's purview, according to statements made on January 23, 2025.

Since regaining control in 2021, the Taliban has enacted over 80 decrees severely restricting women's rights, such as prohibiting their education and work and imposing further daily life limitations. Recent decrees even included banning windows in rooms used frequently by women to prevent them from being seen by unrelated men, highlighting the depth of these restrictions.

Afghan activists have expressed hope that this ICC request could lead to greater accountability, with Shukria Barakzai, a former parliament member, calling it a “powerful message” against impunity. While immediate repercussions are uncertain, legal experts suggest the move will increase scrutiny on Taliban actions globally. Human Rights Watch’s Heather Barr insists that Afghan women deserve justice for ongoing violations.

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