Taliban condemns ICC arrest warrants amidst Human Rights concerns

Afghanistan’s Taliban foreign ministry has issued a strong condemnation of the International Criminal Court (ICC) following its request for arrest warrants for two Taliban leaders, labeling the move as “politically motivated” and lacking a fair legal foundation.

In a statement released on Friday, the ministry rejected the warrants, which accuse Taliban supreme spiritual leader Haibatullah Akhundzada and chief justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani of persecuting women and girls. The ICC prosecutor announced the pursuit of these warrants on Thursday, citing ongoing persecution that has persisted since the Taliban seized control of Kabul on August 15, 2021, marking the end of a two-decade insurgency against the Western-backed government.

Since returning to power, the Taliban has imposed significant restrictions on women’s rights, limiting their access to public spaces, education, and employment. High schools and universities have been closed to female students, raising international concerns about gender-based discrimination.

The Taliban’s foreign ministry criticized the ICC for its inaction during the two decades of foreign occupation in Afghanistan, asserting that the court has ignored war crimes committed by foreign forces and their local allies.

Rights advocacy group Amnesty International has welcomed the ICC prosecutor’s announcement as a significant development. Amnesty Secretary General Agnès Callamard stated, “This is a crucial step to hold accountable all those allegedly responsible for the gender-based deprivation of fundamental rights.”

Callamard also urged the ICC prosecutor to revisit a 2021 decision to deprioritize investigations into alleged war crimes by international forces, arguing that this approach risks fostering perceptions of selective justice that favors powerful states over the rights of crime victims under international law.

As the situation in Afghanistan continues to evolve, the international community remains watchful of the Taliban’s actions and the implications for human rights in the country.