ICC Seeks Arrest Warrants for Taliban Leaders Over Women's Rights Violations

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The International Criminal Court's (ICC) chief prosecutor has requested arrest warrants for the Taliban's supreme leader, Haibatullah Akhundzada, and chief justice, Abdul Hakim Haqqani. This request is based on allegations of crimes against humanity stemming from the persecution of women and girls in Afghanistan. Legal experts emphasize that this marks a significant shift, as it is the first case built explicitly around systematic gender crimes.

Since the Taliban regained power in 2021, they have implemented over 80 decrees that infringe upon the basic rights of women, including restrictions on work, education, and public life. Recent measures include a decree that prohibits windows in rooms commonly used by women to ensure they are not seen by unrelated men.

This move has been hailed as a pivotal moment by Afghan activists who have felt neglected by the international community. Shukria Barakzai, a prominent activist, described the announcement as a vital signal that violations of women's rights will no longer go unpunished.

Despite the symbolic weight of the warrants, it is unlikely that the Taliban leaders will be arrested anytime soon as they seldom travel outside Afghanistan. Nonetheless, experts believe that the warrants serve to stigmatize the Taliban's actions and hold them accountable on a global stage.

Activists also urge the ICC to expand its focus to address a broader history of war crimes in Afghanistan that have persisted for decades, signaling that this progress is the beginning rather than the end of the fight for justice.

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