The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has announced that he is seeking arrest warrants for senior Taliban leaders due to severe allegations of gender-based crimes. Notably, Supreme Leader Haibatullah Akhundzada and Chief Justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani are accused of crimes against humanity affecting women and girls in Afghanistan. Prosecutor Karim Khan stated on January 23, 2025, that there are “reasonable grounds to believe” that these leaders are criminally responsible for widespread persecution of Afghan women and LGBTQI+ individuals, which amounts to an ongoing crime against humanity (Le Monde).

Khan elaborated that since the Taliban regained control in August 2021, they have imposed various laws and edicts that severely restrict the rights and freedoms of Afghan women and girls, pushing them out of public life and denying them access to education and employment. This period has seen unprecedented repression labeled as "gender apartheid" by the United Nations. The investigation and subsequent action highlight the ongoing atrocities faced by Afghan women, described by Khan as an “unconscionable and ongoing persecution” (AP News).

Human rights organizations have welcomed the ICC's initiative as a potential avenue for justice, given that traditional accountability mechanisms are absent in Afghanistan. “Their systematic violations of women and girls’ rights, including education bans, have accelerated with complete impunity,” said Liz Evenson, from Human Rights Watch. The situation drastically denies basic human rights for women and girls, which is particularly alarming as Afghanistan becomes the only country globally to systematically suppress females from all levels of education and public engagement (Reuters).

The process of issuing arrest warrants within the ICC typically takes several months, indicating a lengthy judicial procedure ahead. Meanwhile, the Taliban leaders have not provided any public reaction to these allegations. Legal experts anticipate that if the warrants are issued, it may not significantly impact Akhundzada's day-to-day governance, as he rarely travels outside of Afghanistan. However, it symbolizes a severe blow to the Taliban's international standing (CNN).

As the ICC moves forward amid its ongoing inquiries into human rights violations in Afghanistan, its prosecutorial actions signal a recommitment to addressing gender-based violence and holding perpetrators accountable, offering a glimmer of hope for the future of women's rights in the region (VOA News).

For more detailed information on this developing situation, refer to the original articles from BBC, CBS, and Al Jazeera.