The International Criminal Court on 8 July said its Pre-Trial Chamber II has issued arrest warrants for Taliban supreme leader Haibatullah Akhundzada and the group’s chief justice, Abdul Hakim Haqqani. Judges found "reasonable grounds" to believe both men committed the crime against humanity of gender-based persecution, accusing them of ordering or enabling a systematic crackdown on women and girls in Afghanistan since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021. According to a court statement, the two leaders imposed decrees that severely curtailed education, work and freedom of movement for women, and targeted others whose gender identity or expression conflicted with Taliban policy. The alleged crimes span 15 August 2021 to at least 20 January 2025. It is the first time the ICC has invoked gender persecution as a standalone charge in an arrest warrant; the detailed evidence remains under seal to protect witnesses. Taliban authorities dismissed the warrants as “absurd” and said they do not recognise the court, with spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid insisting the move would not affect the group’s commitment to its interpretation of Islamic law. By contrast, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and other rights groups welcomed the decision and urged governments to help enforce the warrants. The ICC has no police force and relies on member states to detain suspects, making enforcement uncertain because neither Afghanistan nor the Taliban recognise the court. Nonetheless, the order increases diplomatic and legal pressure on the Taliban at a time when some countries, including Russia, have moved toward formal recognition of the regime.