The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada and the group’s chief justice, Abdul Hakim Haqqani, on charges of crimes against humanity.

In a statement released on Tuesday, 8 July, the court said the two senior Taliban officials are being prosecuted for their alleged roles in the systematic persecution of women, girls, and others in Afghanistan on the basis of gender and political affiliation.

The ICC stated that the charges stem from a broader investigation into the Taliban’s policies and actions since their return to power in August 2021. Prosecutors say the group has imposed widespread and institutionalised restrictions on women and girls, depriving them of fundamental rights including education, employment, and freedom of movement.

The court also cited politically motivated persecution and acts of discrimination targeting dissenting voices and civil society actors.

The arrest warrants mark a significant step in international legal efforts to hold Taliban leadership accountable for alleged human rights abuses. As Afghanistan is a party to the Rome Statute, the ICC retains jurisdiction over crimes committed within the country.

As of Tuesday evening, Taliban authorities had not publicly responded to the announcement.