The ICC prosecutor asked for an arrest warrant against the Taliban leaders, according to Reuters

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By Stephanie van den Berg

THE HAGUE (Reuters) – Prosecutors at the International Criminal Court said they have applied for an arrest warrant against the leaders of the Taliban in Afghanistan, including the high-ranking spiritual leader Haibatullah Akunzdada, who has committed crimes against humanity for widespread discrimination against women and girls.

A statement from Attorney General Karim Khan’s office said evidence gathered as part of the investigation “provides reasonable grounds to believe that Akundzada and Abdul Hakim Haqqani, who has served as chief justice since 2021, are criminally responsible for crimes against humanity.” “Gender-Based Persecution”.

“They are criminally responsible for the persecution of Afghan girls and women, as well as those whom the Taliban perceive as not conforming to their ideological expectations of gender identity or expression, and those whom the Taliban consider to be allies of women and girls,” the statement said. .

The migration took place in Afghan territory from at least August 15, 2021 until today and is still ongoing, prosecutors said.

The Afghanistan investigation is one of the longest by an ICC prosecutor and is beset by legal and operational delays. An initial preliminary investigation began in 2007, and it was only in 2022 that a full investigation was moved forward.

The Islamic Taliban of Afghanistan