On January 23, 2025, Karim Khan, the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), requested arrest warrants for Taliban leader Haibatullah Akhundzada and Afghanistan's Supreme Court Chairman Abdul Hakim Haqqani. The prosecutor cited substantial grounds for believing they are criminally responsible for crimes against humanity related to gender-based persecution.
Khan highlighted the severe and ongoing persecution faced by women, girls, and LGBTQ+ individuals in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. Reports indicate that these groups are deprived of fundamental rights, including bodily autonomy, freedom of movement, education, and private family life.
The Taliban's crackdown on dissent has involved killings, imprisonment, torture, and sexual violence. According to the ICC, these persecutions have been ongoing since August 15, 2021, across Afghanistan.
The ICC in The Hague noted that this request represents the initial phase of arrest warrants targeting Taliban leadership, with further requests anticipated for other high-ranking Taliban members. The court's judges will now consider the request, a decision that may take weeks or months. If warrants are issued, 125 countries that have ratified the Rome Statute will be obligated to arrest the specified individuals within their jurisdictions.
The Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in mid-2021, initially promising liberal reforms but quickly imposing significant restrictions on women and girls, including bans on public presence, secondary and higher education, and employment opportunities.
Akhundzada has led the Taliban since 2016 and has been living in Kandahar, Afghanistan, since the takeover, avoiding public appearances. Haqqani has served as the Supreme Court Chairman since October 2021.