International Criminal Court Seeks Arrest Warrants for Taliban Leaders

The International Criminal Court (ICC) announced on Thursday its intention to issue arrest warrants for Taliban leaders accused of gender-based crimes, as the group continues its sweeping crackdown on women’s rights in Afghanistan.

The ICC has targeted two high-ranking Taliban officials, marking a significant step in addressing the ongoing persecution of women under the group’s rule. The move has drawn attention from Afghan women and human rights advocates, who have long sought accountability for the Taliban’s actions.

The ICC’s chief prosecutor stated that there is sufficient evidence to suggest that the Supreme Leader of the Taliban, Haibatullah Akhundzada, and the Chief Justice of the “Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,” Abdul Hakim Haqqani, bear responsibility for crimes against humanity, specifically persecution on grounds of gender.

They are “criminally responsible for persecuting Afghan girls and women…and persons whom the Taliban perceived as allies of girls and women,” the statement said.

The applications for these arrest warrants are now awaiting judicial approval. Even if authorized, the ICC, based in the Netherlands, does not have its own enforcement mechanism, relying instead on the cooperation of member states to carry out arrests. The prosecutor also indicated that additional warrants for other senior Taliban members are forthcoming.

Since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in August 2021, their policies have systematically erased women and girls from public life. While the group initially claimed to be more moderate compared to its rule in the 1990s, its actions have told a different story. Women have been banned from universities, secondary schools, and workplaces, including NGOs and United Nations agencies. Most recently, the group has barred the construction of buildings with windows where women could be seen.

“We are trapped in a darkness you cannot imagine—a life where our voices are silenced, our dreams shattered, and even the simplest freedoms stolen. We wake each day to a world that denies our existence, where even the sun feels forbidden. Do you know how it feels to dream of freedom while living in chains? To long for education, for dignity, for life, while being told we are nothing?” Bahara*, 20, told More to Her Story.

The ICC’s move signals a broader push for accountability amid ongoing human rights violations in Afghanistan. While the court's actions are limited by its reliance on international cooperation for enforcement, the prosecutor emphasized the need to expand investigations into other serious abuses. These include crimes committed by international military forces and the Islamic State in Afghanistan.

Globally, no nation formally recognizes the Taliban as Afghanistan’s legitimate rulers. However, some countries, including Russia, China, and Pakistan, have established diplomatic relations with the group, complicating efforts to hold its leaders accountable on the world stage.

*Names have been changed.