The Taliban has condemned the International Criminal Court's decision to issue arrest warrants for two top officials for persecuting women, calling the accusations groundless. The Afghan Women's Movement welcomed the ICC's action as a historical achievement,

The Taliban claimed the ICC should “not attempt to impose a particular interpretation of human rights on the entire world and ignore the religious and national values of people..."

The Afghanistan probe is one of the longest by ICC prosecutors and has been beset by legal and practical delays.

Women in Afghanistan are barred from having jobs, from most public spaces, and receiving an education beyond the age of 12.

The Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced that arrest warrants have been issued for Hibatullah Akhundzada, the leader of the Taliban, and Abdul Hakim Haqqani, the Taliban’s chief justice.

The requested warrants target Hibatullah Akhundzada, the reclusive Kandahar-based leader of the Taliban, and Abdul Hakim Haqqani, the group’s chief justice.

An Afghan women’s group yesterday hailed a decision by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to arrest Taliban leaders for their persecution of women. The ICC’s chief prosecutor Karim Khan on Thursday announced that he had requested arrest warrants for two top Taliban officials, including the leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada.

The Hague-based ICC is mandated to rule on the world’s worst offenses, such as war crimes and crimes against humanity. The court has no police force and relies on its 125 member states to execute its arrest warrants. Taliban officials did not immediately offer any response to the ICC announcement.

This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers January 18 to January 24.

The Taliban Friday rejected a court move to arrest two of their top officials for persecuting women, accusing the court of baseless accusations and misbehavior. The International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor Karim Khan announced Thursday he had requested arrest warrants for two top Taliban officials, including the leader Hibatullah Akhundzada.

The move comes after the International Criminal Court requested arrested warrants for two Taliban chiefs, including the leader Hibatullah Akhundzada.