The Taliban has rejected the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and declared the Rome Statute non-binding on their governance.
In a statement released Thursday, the group said its rule is based in Islamic law and not international legal frameworks.
“The historical record of this ‘court’ unequivocally demonstrates that, rather than adhering to the principles of justice and impartiality, it has consistently operated in accordance with political considerations,” the Taliban said.
“The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, which advocates for mutual respect and principled engagement with other nations, fundamentally rejects such an approach.”
The Taliban accused the ICC of political bias, arguing the court is not grounded in justice and fairness, as it dismissed the previous Afghan government’s membership in 2003 as “unlawful”.
“In numerous countries, including Afghanistan, millions of innocent civilians – predominantly women and children – have suffered oppression and been subjected to acts of violence. However, this ‘court’ has conspicuously failed to address these egregious injustices,” the statement added.
The ICC chief prosecutor issued arrest warrants in January for Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada and the head of the Taliban’s Supreme Court Abdul Hakim Haqqani on charges of crimes against humanity and gender persecution of women.
The move was widely welcomed by political opposition groups, civil society activists, human rights defenders, and various governments.
However, human rights organizations and activists have voiced concerns that issuing arrest warrants alone is not enough. They are calling on the ICC to take further, more decisive action to hold Taliban leaders accountable.
