NEW YORK, January 26, 2025 – The International Organization for Transitional Justice and Peace (ITJP) express its profound appreciation to the ICC Prosecutor Karim Ahmad Khan for its bold and commendable decision to seek arrest warrants for Taliban Supreme Leader Haibatullah Akhundzada and Chief Justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani for crimes against humanity targeting Afghan women, girls, and LGBTQ+ individuals. This landmark action is a significant milestone in the global fight for justice and accountability for gross human rights violations in Afghanistan.
The Taliban’s systematic oppression of Afghan women and girls and its heinous abuses reflect the gravest forms of tyranny, shocking the conscience of humanity. By taking this decisive step, the ICC has sent a powerful message that such atrocities will not go unpunished, reaffirming its commitment to upholding justice under international law.
The ITJP recognizes the critical role played by the ICC’s Afghanistan team, particularly Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan and her dedicated colleagues, in investigating these allegations. However, while this action is significant, it is far from sufficient. The ITJP strongly urges the ICC to broaden its investigations to encompass all crimes committed by the Taliban since 2003. This includes addressing the suffering of countless victims of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other severe violations perpetrated by the Taliban over the past two decades.
Additionally, accountability must extend to senior Taliban figures beyond those named in the current warrants. This includes the Minister of Interior, who has been implicated in orchestrating devastating suicide bombings and other acts of terror that have caused widespread devastation and loss of life.
The ITJP emphasizes the necessity of a comprehensive approach to justice that addresses the full scope of the Taliban’s criminal actions. We call on the ICC and the international community to intensify efforts to investigate and prosecute all perpetrators and to ensure that the voices of victims are heard and justice is served.
ITJP expresses its strong commitment to standing with the Afghan people in their pursuit of justice, accountability, and dignity. We will continue to actively advocate for comprehensive investigations and accountability, united in the shared goal of ending impunity and achieving justice for all victims.
