ICC issues arrest warrants for Taliban leaders over persecution of LGBTQ people
THE HAGUE, July 11, 2025 — The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada and Chief Justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani, accusing them of crimes against humanity based on gender persecution.
The charges cite systematic targeting of women, girls, LGBTQ‑identifying individuals and others not conforming to Taliban gender norms since the group’s return to power in August 2021. The ICC ruling marks the first time the court has formally recognized the persecution of LGBTQ individuals under gender-based charges.
The court’s statement confirms reasonable grounds to believe that these leaders “ordered, induced, or solicited” the persecution of the groups mentioned under Article 7(1)(h) of the Rome Statute. The warrants also reflect accusations of political persecution against those perceived as allies of women and girls.
Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid dismissed the ICC’s decision, calling it biased and contrary to Islamic Sharia law. The move arrived shortly after a UN resolution urging the reversal of Taliban restrictions on women and girls, adopted despite US objections. Historically, the ICC began investigating Afghanistan in 2020, initially including Taliban, ISIS, and US forces; the focus narrowed to Taliban and ISIS crimes in 2022 due to insufficient domestic investigations.
Human Rights Watch applauded the action, urging ICC member states to enforce the warrants globally. Still, enforcement remains uncertain; Taliban leaders have not traveled internationally since 2021, and past ICC warrants have met weak compliance.
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