The Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced that arrest warrants have been issued for Hibatullah Akhundzada, the leader of the Taliban, and Abdul Hakim Haqqani, the Taliban’s chief justice.

The Taliban has condemned the International Criminal Court's decision to issue arrest warrants for two top officials for persecuting women, calling the accusations groundless. The Afghan Women's Movement welcomed the ICC's action as a historical achievement,

The Taliban claimed the ICC should “not attempt to impose a particular interpretation of human rights on the entire world and ignore the religious and national values of people..."

The requested warrants target Hibatullah Akhundzada, the reclusive Kandahar-based leader of the Taliban, and Abdul Hakim Haqqani, the group’s chief justice.

Women in Afghanistan are barred from having jobs, from most public spaces, and receiving an education beyond the age of 12.

The International Criminal Court, a U.N. agency, has to approve the warrants. They've been condemned by the Taliban and welcomed by Afghan women and their advocates — with some reservations.

Secluded in his stronghold in southern Afghanistan, reclusive Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada is the cornerstone of the movement that has ruled the country unchallenged since reclaiming power in 2021,

The Hague-based ICC is mandated to rule on the world’s worst offenses, such as war crimes and crimes against humanity. The court has no police force and relies on its 125 member states to execute its arrest warrants. Taliban officials did not immediately offer any response to the ICC announcement.

An Afghan women’s group yesterday hailed a decision by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to arrest Taliban leaders for their persecution of women. The ICC’s chief prosecutor Karim Khan on Thursday announced that he had requested arrest warrants for two top Taliban officials, including the leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada.

Afghan women's group celebrates ICC decision to arrest Taliban leaders for persecution of women, sparking hope for justice.

This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers January 18 to January 24.