Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 11:50am on 09 Jul 2025,Wednesday International
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Taliban Supreme Leader Haibatullah Akhunzada and Chief Justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani for alleged gender-based persecution in Afghanistan. Judges said the Taliban severely deprived women and girls of education, freedom of movement, expression, and other rights since seizing power on August 15, 2021. The court also cited persecution based on gender identity. The Taliban dismissed the charges as “baseless rhetoric” and rejected ICC jurisdiction. Rights groups including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch welcomed the move, calling it a crucial step toward accountability for widespread, systematic abuses against Afghan women and LGBTQ+ communities. (PC: Al Jazeera)
