Fri Jan 24 06:57:17 UTC 2025: ## ICC Seeks Arrest Warrants for Taliban Leaders Over Persecution of Women

**Kabul, Afghanistan –** The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for two top Taliban officials, including leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, for the persecution of women in Afghanistan. This move, announced Thursday by ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan, has been lauded by Afghan women’s rights groups as a “great historical achievement.”

The Afghan Women’s Movement for Justice and Awareness celebrated the decision, viewing it as a step towards accountability and justice. The Taliban government has yet to respond.

However, concerns have been raised that the Taliban might use the ICC’s action for propaganda purposes, portraying it as evidence of their strong faith and resistance to global pressure. Mohammad Halim Fidai, a former governor under the Western-backed administration, expressed this concern.

The ICC’s decision, while carrying significant political weight and potentially increasing pressure on the Taliban, faces considerable practical challenges in implementation.

Separately, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) condemned the ongoing ban on girls’ education, calling it a “tragedy and travesty.” UNAMA head Roza Otunbayeva highlighted that Afghanistan is the only country globally with such a sweeping ban on female education, affecting millions of girls for over three years. This ban, along with restrictions on women’s employment and public life, has been in place since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.

Read More