ICC issues arrest warrants for Taliban leaders over persecution of LGBTQ people, women

On Tuesday, the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for two Taliban officials accused of targeting LGBTQ people, women and others who deny the strict gender norms of the group.

The warrants belong to the Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada and Afghanistan Supreme Court Justice Abdul Hakim Hakkani.

“Based on the evidence presented by the (prosecutor’s) office, the judge found that there is a reasonable basis for believing that he committed a crime against humanity of persecution, a crime against humanity of persecution, a crime against humanity of persecution, a crime against humanity of persecution, a crime against humanity of persecution, a crime against humanity of persecution, a crime against humanity of persecution, a gender grounds, a group between girls, women, and a group between gender, a group between girls, women, and a group between gender, there is a reasonable basis for believing that he committed a crime against humanity of persecution. Those who are perceived as “alls of girls and women” are ICC Press Release It announced a warrant.

ICC’s chief prosecutor Karim Khan announced in January a request for a warrant to Taliban authorities for the treatment of women and other groups as they regained control of Afghanistan in 2021.

“The issuance of the first warrant of arrest in the Afghan situation is a significant proof and approval of the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan,” reads an ICC press release released Tuesday. “It also recognizes the rights and living experiences of those who perceived as not complying with the ideological expectations of gender identity and expression, such as members of the LGBTQI+ community and those who the Taliban perceived as girls and women’s ally.”

The full international report, which was a note by Taliban officials in 2023, systematically targets LGBTQ people, especially gay men and transgender women.

Taliban officials are exposed to physical and sexual assault, as in any detention. The international report also points to Taliban authorities publicly whiplashing for same-sex sexual relations and collecting intelligence about LGBTQ activists and community members.

Artemis Akbary, executive director of the Afghan LGBTIQ organization, praised the ICC.

“Today is a historic moment for LGBTIQ victims and survivors,” he said on social media.