The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhunzada and Supreme Court head Abdul Hakim Haqqani. They are charged with persecuting women, girls, and LGBTQI+ individuals since seizing power in Afghanistan. The warrants cite the Taliban's severe restrictions on women's rights and freedoms. The Taliban rejected the ICC's authority, calling the decision an insult to Islam. The UN recently passed a resolution urging the Taliban to reverse their oppression of women, while Russia became the first country to formally recognize the Taliban government. Human Rights Watch welcomed the ICC's decision and called for international cooperation to enforce the warrants.

Prepared by Rachel Morgan and reviewed by editorial team.