ICC seeks arrest of Taliban leaders for Afghan oppression

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for two Taliban leaders on Tuesday, accusing them of persecuting women, girls, and LGBTQI+ individuals in Afghanistan. This marks the first time the ICC has issued warrants for such crimes. The warrants target Haibatullah Akhundzada and Abdul Hakim Haqqani, alleging they are responsible for gender-based persecution since August 2021. The Taliban, which does not recognize the ICC, has dismissed the warrants as "nonsense" and is unlikely to cooperate. The ICC's decision is seen as a recognition of the rights of Afghan women and the LGBTQI+ community. Human rights groups have lauded the move, calling it a crucial step towards justice, despite the challenges of enforcement.