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On Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced seeking arrest warrants for Taliban leaders Haibatullah Akhundzada and Abdul Hakim Haqqani for gender persecution under the Rome Statute. The charges stem from Afghanistan’s severe restrictions on women, including education prohibitions and morality laws targeting LGBTQI groups.
The ICC Prosecutor’s move to pursue these cases aligns with its mandate to investigate international crimes, despite U.S. concerns over the Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act (ICCA). This legislation aims to prevent selective prosecution against U.S.-allied nations but risks undermining the ICC’s impartiality and effectiveness globally, including in conflict zones like Gaza.
The announcement places U.S. Senators at an uncomfortable political spot, questioning the ICC’s role in holding Taliban accountable despite the charges fitting the ICC’s mandate. The case highlights tensions between international justice and national interests, raising questions about the balance between accountability and political expediency.
Source: https://www.justsecurity.org/106823/icc-taliban-warrants-us-strategy