"My office has submitted two requests for arrest warrants to the Pre-Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court regarding the situation in Afghanistan. [...] My office conducts independent and impartial investigations into alleged crimes committed against the civilians of Afghanistan," it states.
Khan noted that there are reasonable grounds to believe that Akhundzada and Haqqani bear criminal responsibility for crimes against humanity in the form of gender persecution under Article 7(1)(h) of the Rome Statute.
"My office has concluded that these two Afghan citizens are criminally responsible for the persecution of Afghan girls and women, as well as individuals whom the 'Taliban' deemed to be inconsistent with their ideological expectations of gender identity or self-expression, and those whom the 'Taliban' considered supporters of girls and women," said the ICC prosecutor.
According to him, the persecution has been ongoing at least since August 15, 2021, across all of Afghanistan.
"The continued persecution entails numerous serious violations of the fundamental rights of victims, which contradict international law, including the right to physical integrity and autonomy, freedom of movement and expression, education, private and family life, and freedom of assembly. These severe deprivations of basic rights have also been committed in connection with other crimes under the Rome Statute," the ICC explained.
The statement mentioned that the "Taliban" has violently suppressed and continues to suppress "noticeable resistance or opposition." This includes the use of killings, imprisonment, torture, sexual violence, and abductions, the ICC reported.
"These are the first requests for arrest warrants in the situation in Afghanistan. My office will soon submit additional requests for other high-ranking members of the 'Taliban'," Khan stated.
The ICC believes that "the Taliban's interpretation of Sharia should not and cannot be used to justify the deprivation of fundamental human rights or the commission of crimes as defined by the Rome Statute."