The Taliban dismisses the ICC arrest warrant, alleging political motivations

Taliban Rejects ICC Arrest Warrants as Politically Motivated

YEPS
3 Min Read

Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government has dismissed the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) move to seek arrest warrants for its leaders as a politically driven decision.

The response came on Friday, a day after ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan announced plans to pursue warrants against senior Taliban officials for alleged persecution of women, classified as a crime against humanity.

In a statement shared on social media platform X, Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry criticized the ICC, saying, “Like many other decisions of the ICC, it lacks a fair legal foundation, exhibits double standards, and is politically motivated. It is regrettable that the court overlooks war crimes and crimes against humanity perpetrated by foreign forces and their domestic allies during Afghanistan’s 20-year occupation.”

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The Taliban further accused the ICC of imposing a selective interpretation of human rights that disregards the religious and cultural values of other nations.

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Since reclaiming power in 2021, the Taliban has enforced strict interpretations of Islamic law, severely curtailing women’s rights, including banning girls’ education and restricting their participation in public life.

Taliban Leaders Denounce ICC Actions
Deputy Interior Minister Mohammad Omari, himself a former Guantanamo Bay detainee, dismissed the ICC’s actions, asserting, “The ICC cannot intimidate us.” He added that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should also face charges for actions in Gaza, referencing the ICC’s issuance of warrants against Netanyahu, his former defense minister, and top Hamas leaders in late 2023.

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ICC Prosecutor Highlights Gender-Based Persecution
Prosecutor Karim Khan argued there is sufficient evidence implicating Taliban Supreme Leader Haibatullah Akhundzada and Chief Justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani in systematic gender-based persecution.

Khan described the Taliban’s treatment of women, girls, and LGBTQ individuals as an “unprecedented and unconscionable persecution.” He stressed, “The status quo for women and girls in Afghanistan is not acceptable.”

Afghanistan remains the only country globally where education for girls is outright banned. Women are also required to wear all-encompassing Islamic attire, barred from public spaces like parks, and prohibited from working in government roles.

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Next Steps for ICC Action
The ICC, based in The Hague, will now evaluate Khan’s request for arrest warrants. While the court cannot enforce its decisions independently, its 125 member states are obligated to execute arrest warrants when individuals travel within their jurisdictions.

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Khan also signaled plans to seek additional warrants against other Taliban officials in the near future, underscoring the ICC’s commitment to addressing ongoing rights violations in Afghanistan.

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