The Taliban administration has declared Afghanistan’s 2003 accession to the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) Rome Statute legally null and void.

This announcement follows the ICC chief prosecutor’s request for arrest warrants against Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada and interim chief justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani for alleged crimes against humanity, specifically the persecution of women and girls.

The Taliban’s deputy spokesman, Hamdullah Fitrat, stated on X (formerly Twitter) that the ICC’s actions are politically motivated and that the court has failed to address widespread injustices suffered by Afghan civilians, including those perpetrated by foreign occupying forces.

Fitrat highlighted the ICC’s inaction regarding alleged war crimes committed by these forces, citing the destruction of villages, schools, and other civilian infrastructure. He also criticized the absence of major world powers, including the United States, from the ICC’s membership.

The Taliban’s rejection of the ICC’s jurisdiction stems from their belief that the 2003 accession occurred under the Western-backed administration that preceded their return to power in 2021. They argue that they are not bound by the actions of the previous government.

The ICC’s prosecutor, Karim Khan, maintains that there are reasonable grounds to believe Akhundzada and Haqqani bear criminal responsibility for the persecution of Afghan women and girls.