A lawsuit has been filed at the International Criminal Court against the Taliban: Women at risk
World
International Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim Khan announced that he has filed a petition with the International Criminal Court for the arrest of individuals related to the situation in Afghanistan. According to him, the Taliban has been treating women in the country cruelly and violating their rights. As a result, they are accused of committing crimes against humanity for sexual discrimination.
In his petition, Karim Khan states: "On October 31, 2022, following the Pre-Trial Chamber's decision to continue our investigation, my office independently and impartially investigated the crimes committed against Afghan citizens.
Based on the evidence gathered during the investigation, my office has determined that the Taliban's supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, and the chief judge of the "Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan," Abdul Hakim Haqqani, are responsible for crimes against humanity related to sexual discrimination under Article 7(1) of the Rome Statute.
According to our office’s conclusion, these two Afghan citizens are responsible for discriminating against Afghan girls and women, as well as against individuals who do not comply with the Taliban's ideological requirements regarding gender identification and expression, and those who have supported girls and women. This discrimination has been perpetrated throughout Afghanistan from August 15, 2021, to the present.
These crimes violate a number of fundamental rights, including physical integrity, freedom of movement, the right to education, family life, and freedom of assembly.
The crimes also include murder, unlawful detention, torture, rape, enforced disappearances, and other unacceptable acts as defined under the Rome Statute."
This is the first petition filed for arrest warrants related to Afghanistan. In the near future, petitions will be filed against other high-ranking members of the Taliban. The petitions were prepared based on various pieces of evidence.
The prosecutor stated that if the court issues arrest warrants based on these petitions, other states will cooperate in enforcing the court's decision.
Based on the evidence gathered during the investigation, my office has determined that the Taliban's supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, and the chief judge of the "Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan," Abdul Hakim Haqqani, are responsible for crimes against humanity related to sexual discrimination under Article 7(1) of the Rome Statute.
According to our office’s conclusion, these two Afghan citizens are responsible for discriminating against Afghan girls and women, as well as against individuals who do not comply with the Taliban's ideological requirements regarding gender identification and expression, and those who have supported girls and women. This discrimination has been perpetrated throughout Afghanistan from August 15, 2021, to the present.
These crimes violate a number of fundamental rights, including physical integrity, freedom of movement, the right to education, family life, and freedom of assembly.
The crimes also include murder, unlawful detention, torture, rape, enforced disappearances, and other unacceptable acts as defined under the Rome Statute."
This is the first petition filed for arrest warrants related to Afghanistan. In the near future, petitions will be filed against other high-ranking members of the Taliban. The petitions were prepared based on various pieces of evidence.
The prosecutor stated that if the court issues arrest warrants based on these petitions, other states will cooperate in enforcing the court's decision.
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