ICC Calls for Arrest of Top Taliban Leaders Over Women’s Rights Abuses

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has requested arrest warrants for senior Taliban figures, including their supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada and Afghanistan’s acting chief justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani. They are accused of overseeing systematic oppression of women and girls since regaining control in 2021, including bans on education, employment, and freedom of movement. The ICC says these actions amount to crimes against humanity, specifically gender persecution. This marks a rare move against a de facto government for internal policies that violate international human rights norms.