The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Taliban supreme leader Haibatullah Akhundzada and Chief Justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani on charges of committing crimes against humanity through the persecution of women and girls since seizing power in August 2021, the ICC announced on July 8.

The Taliban have imposed severe restrictions on women and girls since returning to power, including banning them from secondary education, most employment and public parks, whilst prohibiting women from travelling long distances without male guardians. The ICC's jurisdiction extends to crimes committed on Afghan territory or by Afghan nationals, though Afghanistan is not a party to the Rome Statute that established the court.

Pre-Trial Chamber II found reasonable grounds to believe both leaders committed persecution under Article 7(1)(h) of the Rome Statute on gender grounds against girls, women and other persons non-conforming with Taliban policies on gender, gender identity or expression, and on political grounds against persons perceived as "allies of girls and women."

The crimes are believed to have been committed on Afghan territory since the Taliban seized power on August 15, 2021, and continued until at least January 20, 2025.

The Chamber said the Taliban implemented a governmental policy resulting in severe violations of fundamental rights and freedoms of Afghanistan's civilian population, connected with murder, imprisonment, torture, rape and enforced disappearance.

"The Taliban severely deprived, through decrees and edicts, girls and women of the rights to education, privacy and family life and the freedoms of movement, expression, thought, conscience and religion," the ICC statement said.

The court noted that other persons were targeted because certain expressions of sexuality and gender identity were regarded as inconsistent with Taliban gender policies.

The Chamber found that gender persecution encompasses not only direct acts of violence but also systemic and institutionalised forms of harm, including the imposition of discriminatory societal norms.

Individuals perceived as opposing Taliban policies, even passively or through omission, were also targeted, including those described as "allies of girls and women" who were viewed as political opponents.

The warrants remain under seal to protect victims and witnesses and safeguard proceedings. However, the Chamber considered the conduct ongoing and that public awareness of the warrants may contribute to preventing further commission of these crimes.

Earlier on July 4, Russia became the first country in the world to officially recognise this current rule of the Taliban, following more than two years of ongoing limited relations.