ICC judges found reasonable grounds that the Taliban's supreme leader and chief justice committed gender persecution, and issued arrest warrants
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What happened
On 23 January 2025 the ICC Prosecutor applied for arrest warrants against Taliban Supreme Leader Haibatullah Akhundzada and Chief Justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani. On 8 July 2025, ICC Pre-Trial Chamber II issued the warrants, finding reasonable grounds to believe both men committed the crime against humanity of persecution on gender grounds against girls, women and others non-conforming with the Taliban's policy, from 15 August 2021 to at least 20 January 2025. This is a pre-trial finding, not a conviction. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid rejected the warrants, writing on X: "We do not recognize any entity under the title of the 'International Court,' nor do we acknowledge any obligation toward it."
By the numbers (2)
● confirmed by a primary document · ○ reported
Roles
1 source
- International Criminal Court (official press release) — International Criminal Court (official press release)Document
found reasonable grounds to believe that Haibatullah Akhundzada ... and Abdul Hakim Haqqani ... committed the crime against humanity of persecution on gender grounds
1 source
- International Criminal Court (official press release) — International Criminal Court (official press release)Document
found reasonable grounds to believe that Haibatullah Akhundzada ... and Abdul Hakim Haqqani ... committed the crime against humanity of persecution on gender grounds
Sources (4)
Response
Contacted and responded — exact wording not on record.
Contacted and responded — exact wording not on record.
What happened next (0)
No outcome recorded yet.