International Criminal Court Issues Arrest Warrants for Taliban Leader and Chief Justice:/: By Mohammad Fahim Sajjadi – AfgNews24

International Criminal Court Issues Arrest Warrants for Taliban Leader and Chief Justice:/: By Mohammad Fahim Sajjadi – AfgNews24

The Hague, July 8, 2025 — The International Criminal Court (ICC) has officially issued arrest warrants for Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada and the group’s Chief Justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani, citing multiple counts of crimes against humanity. The ruling is a major legal development in response to the systematic persecution of women, girls, and gender minorities under Taliban rule in Afghanistan.

The ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber II found reasonable grounds to believe that both Akhundzada and Haqqani are criminally responsible for policies and directives which amount to widespread and systematic violations of basic human rights. The court noted that these acts have been carried out as part of an orchestrated state-like policy, under the Taliban’s de facto governance since August 15, 2021.

According to the official court documents and statements by ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan, the crimes include:

• Gender-based persecution of women and girls, including bans on education, employment, public movement, and access to healthcare;
• Suppression of fundamental freedoms, such as expression, religion, and family life;
• Enforcement of discriminatory edicts via a legal system designed to marginalize and punish women and those who oppose Taliban ideology.

The warrants, originally issued under seal in January 2025, were made public on July 8 in an effort to support international enforcement and deter ongoing abuses.

“These arrest warrants underscore the fact that no individual—no matter how powerful—is above the law,” said Prosecutor Khan. “The women and girls of Afghanistan are not invisible. Their suffering is not to be ignored.”

While the ICC does not have a police force to enforce its warrants, the Court called on all States Parties to assist in locating and arresting the suspects. Afghanistan is not currently a party to the Rome Statute, but the ICC has jurisdiction due to previous rulings and referrals.

This marks the most direct international legal action taken against the Taliban leadership since their return to power. Human rights organizations have widely welcomed the decision, calling it a long-overdue step toward accountability.

There has been no immediate response from Taliban officials.

The ICC ruling represents a significant milestone in the global pursuit of justice and reaffirms that gender apartheid and systematic oppression will not go unnoticed.

For AfgNews24 – Reporting from The Hague, The Netherlands

Mohammad Fahim Sajjadi