The Hague (Web Desk/Agencies): The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has applied for arrest warrants for two prominent Taliban leaders in Afghanistan, including Haibatullah Akhundzada, the group’s supreme spiritual leader.
The move comes in response to allegations that these leaders are responsible for crimes against humanity, particularly in relation to the widespread persecution of women and girls under Taliban rule.
According to the ICC's chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, evidence gathered through investigations suggests that Akhundzada and Abdul Hakim Haqqani, the Taliban’s chief justice, bear criminal responsibility for the ongoing gender-based persecution in Afghanistan.
The prosecutor's office contends that the two men are directly involved in the systematic discrimination against women and girls, as well as those who oppose the Taliban's strict interpretation of gender identity.
The actions in question have been ongoing since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, and the mistreatment continues to affect millions.
This request for arrest warrants is part of the ICC’s broader effort to hold accountable those who perpetrate human rights violations, particularly gender-based crimes.
It remains to be seen how the ICC judges will respond, but the move signals a commitment to pursuing justice for victims of persecution, especially in situations where such abuses are being carried out under the guise of religious law.
The international community continues to watch closely as the Taliban's treatment of women and girls remains a major issue of concern.
