KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The Taliban announced Afghanistan’s withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Thursday, rejecting the legitimacy of the country’s 2003 accession to the court’s founding treaty.
In a statement, the Taliban declared that they did not recognize any legal obligations under the Rome Statute, calling the previous government’s decision to join the ICC “unlawful.”
“As an entity that upholds the religious and national values of the Afghan people within the framework of Islamic Sharia, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan does not recognize any obligation to the Rome Statute or the institution referred to as the ‘International Criminal Court,’” the statement read.
The Taliban also accused the ICC of political bias, claiming it had failed to prosecute war crimes committed by foreign forces in Afghanistan.
“Given that many of the world’s major powers are not signatories to this ‘court,’ it is unwarranted for a nation such as Afghanistan, which has historically endured foreign occupation and colonial subjugation, to be bound by its jurisdiction,” the statement added.
The announcement follows ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan’s request last month for arrest warrants against Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada and Chief Justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani, accusing them of crimes against humanity, including the systematic persecution of Afghan women and girls.
The Taliban swiftly condemned the move, calling the allegations “unfair” and “politically motivated.’”
The ICC, established under the 1998 Rome Statute, investigates and prosecutes individuals for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. While it lacks enforcement powers, it relies on its 125 member states to execute arrest warrants.
Afghanistan became a state party to the Rome Statute in 2003 under the Western-backed republic, granting the ICC jurisdiction over crimes committed on Afghan soil or by Afghan nationals.
However, since seizing power in August 2021, the Taliban have ruled under a strict interpretation of Islamic law, imposing severe restrictions on women’s rights and freedoms.
No country has formally recognized the Taliban as Afghanistan’s legitimate government, largely due to concerns over human rights abuses, particularly their treatment of women and girls.
