ICC Issues Arrest Warrants for Taliban Leaders Over Systemic Gender Persecution

The Hague, July 9, 2025 — The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for two senior Taliban leaders, accusing them of crimes against humanity for orchestrating a systematic campaign of gender-based persecution in Afghanistan.
The warrants target Supreme Leader Haibatullah Akhundzada and Chief Justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani, citing their roles in policies that have “severely deprived” Afghan women and girls of fundamental rights since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021.
According to ICC judges, the Taliban leadership imposed decrees that stripped women and girls of access to education, employment, and public life, while also targeting individuals who did not conform to the regime’s strict views on gender identity and expression.
“This is a landmark step in recognizing the scale and intent of gender persecution under the Taliban,” said ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan. “The actions of these leaders were not incidental—they were institutional and deliberate.”
Taliban Dismisses Charges
The Taliban has rejected the ICC’s move as “nonsense,” with spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid stating that the group does not recognize the court’s authority and remains committed to its interpretation of Islamic law.
Despite the Taliban’s dismissal, human rights organizations have welcomed the ICC’s decision. Amnesty International called it “an important development that gives hope to Afghan women, girls, and others persecuted on the basis of gender identity,” while Human Rights Watch urged member states to enforce the warrants.
Global Implications
The ICC’s action marks the first time an international tribunal has formally recognized LGBTQI+ individuals as victims of gender-based crimes in Afghanistan, expanding the scope of accountability beyond traditional definitions.
While the court lacks its own enforcement mechanism, individuals subject to ICC warrants risk arrest if they travel to member states. The move also places pressure on countries that have recently engaged with the Taliban, including Russia, which formally recognized the regime last week.
As Afghanistan remains under Taliban control, the ICC’s warrants signal a growing international effort to hold its leadership accountable for widespread human rights abuses—particularly those targeting the country’s most vulnerable populations.