The Taliban have rejected a court move to arrest two of their top officials for persecuting women, accusing the court of baseless accusations and misbehaviour.
The International Criminal Court’s (ICC) chief prosecutor Karim Khan announced on Thursday that he had requested arrest warrants for two top Taliban officials, including the leader Hibatullah Akhundzada.
Since they took back control of the country in 2021, the Taliban have barred women from jobs and most public spaces, as well as education for girls beyond the age of 11-12.
A Foreign Ministry statement condemned the ICC request.
The court is making baseless accusations against Afghanistan’s leadership at a time of peace in the country and people had “breathed a sigh of relief”, the ministry said.
#ICC Prosecutor @KarimKhanQC announces applications for warrants of arrest in the situation in #Afghanistan for the Supreme Leader of the Taliban, Haibatullah Akhundzada, and the Chief Justice of the “Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan”, Abdul Hakim Haqqani.https://t.co/zpCmoBEQvb pic.twitter.com/9FHF0bVqAJ
— Int'l Criminal Court (@IntlCrimCourt) January 23, 2025
It alleged the court had turned a blind eye to decades of war and crimes against humanity committed by foreign forces and their allies.
“This misbehaviour further destroys the weak credibility of the said structure (ICC) and makes its status and position at the international level completely meaningless,” the statement added.
The ministry warned the court against imposing its interpretation of human rights and ignoring the religious and national values of others.
Earlier on Friday, an Afghan women’s group had hailed the court’s move.
The Afghan Women’s Movement for Justice and Awareness celebrated the ICC decision and called it a “great historical achievement”.
“We consider this achievement a symbol of the strength and will of Afghan women and believe this step will start a new chapter of accountability and justice in the country,” the group said.
Statement of #ICC Prosecutor @KarimKhanQC: Applications for arrest warrants in the situation in #Afghanistan ⤵️https://t.co/zpCmoBFokJ
— Int'l Criminal Court (@IntlCrimCourt) January 23, 2025
An official in the former Western-backed administration said the Taliban leadership was likely to exploit the decision for propaganda purposes by framing it as proof of their strong faith and resilience.
Mohammad Halim Fidai said on the X platform: “They may tell their followers that their beliefs are so powerful they have provoked the collective opposition of global powers.”
Mr Fidai was a governor of four provinces before the Taliban takeover in August 2021 and now lives outside Afghanistan.
“This decision could inadvertently serve as a badge of honour or credibility for them.”
Also on Friday, the UN mission in Afghanistan said it was a “tragedy and travesty” that girls remain deprived of education.
Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, Roza Otunbayeva, said: “It has been 1,225 days – soon to be four years – since authorities imposed a ban that prevents girls above the age of 12 from attending school.
“It is a travesty and tragedy that millions of Afghan girls have been stripped of their right to education.”
Afghanistan is the only country in the world that explicitly bars women and girls from all levels of education, said Ms Otunbayeva.
