The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for two Taliban leaders in Afghanistan, including supreme spiritual leader Haibatullah Akhundzada, accusing them of persecuting women and girls. A statement released by the office of Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan said investigators found reasonable grounds to believe that Akhundzada and Abdul Hakim Haqqani, who has served as chief justice since 2021, "bear criminal responsibility for the crime against humanity of gender-based persecution."
"After a period of delay, my office has independently and impartially examined the crimes committed against Afghan civilians. After a thorough investigation and based on the evidence collected, my office submits that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the Supreme Leader of the Taliban, and the Chief Justice of the so-called Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, bear criminal responsibility for crimes against humanity of gender-based persecution. My office has concluded that these two Afghan nationals are criminally responsible for the persecution of Afghan girls and women," said Karim Khan, ICC Prosecutor.
The persecution has occurred across Afghanistan from August 15, 2021 - the day Taliban forces captured the capital Kabul - to the present day, the prosecutor said. Since the Islamist group returned to power in 2021, it has suppressed women's rights, including restrictions on education, work and general independence in daily life.
There was no comment from Taliban leaders on the prosecutor's statement, which was welcomed by women's rights groups. The case is now expected to go to a three-judge panel at the ICC to decide on the prosecution's request, which has no set deadline. Such proceedings take an average of three months.
This is the first time ICC prosecutors have publicly sought an order in their investigation into possible war crimes in Afghanistan, which dates back to 2007 and once included alleged crimes by the US military there. (A2 Televizion)
A2 CNN Livestream
MUND TE LEXONI GJITHASHTU
