Reactions to Arrest Warrants for Taliban Leaders; A Step Toward Ending Impunity

Photo: Wakil Kohsar/AFP/Getty Images

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Hibatullah Akhundzada, the Taliban leader, and Abdul Hakim Haqqani, the Chief Justice of the group, on charges of committing “crimes against humanity.” This action has been taken as part of the court’s investigation into the situation in Afghanistan.

Pre-Trial Chamber II of the ICC, after reviewing documents and evidence, stated that there are reasonable grounds to believe that “Crime against humanity of persecution” were committed by these two senior Taliban officials. These crimes, according to the Rome Statute, include issuing orders, incitement, or encouragement of acts based on gender against women, girls, and others whose gender identity and expression did not conform with Taliban policies.

The court also stated that individuals identified as “supporters of girls and women” were also targets of this systematic persecution. These crimes began after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan on 15 August 2021 and continued at least until 20 January 2025.

In response to this action, Amnesty International has called for the recognition of gender apartheid as an international crime to strengthen efforts against regimes built on systematic gender-based oppression and domination.

Human Rights Watch has also welcomed the ruling and emphasized the need for global support for the ICC. According to Liz Evenson, Director of International Justice at the organization, Taliban leaders are now being prosecuted for the systematic repression of women, girls, and individuals with diverse gender identities.

Richard Bennett, the United Nations Special Rapporteur, described the decision as a key step toward ending impunity and emphasized that the Taliban regime must not be normalized.

Fawzia Koofi, former member of the Afghan Parliament, called the move “a positive development” in the effort to confront the normalization of gender-based abuse, but said it is not enough and called for stronger measures.

Meanwhile, the Alliance of Afghan Human Rights Defenders called the ruling the beginning of the end of the “cycle of impunity” for war criminals and called for the expansion of legal action to include other Taliban leaders, such as Sirajuddin Haqqani, Mullah Yaqoob, and Mullah Baradar.

Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, called the ruling “a powerful message for the women of Afghanistan and the world” and emphasized the need for accountability for violators of women’s rights.

However, the Taliban have rejected the authority of the court and declared that they do not recognize the International Criminal Court. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, in a response, called the ruling “nonsense” and claimed that the decision would have no impact on the group’s position.

On the other hand, the United Nations has emphasized the independence of the International Criminal Court and called on all countries to respect and cooperate with the process of investigating crimes, especially those committed against women and girls in Afghanistan.