Taliban Condemn ICC Arrest Warrants, Reject Court’s Authority

DID Press: Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid has condemned the International Criminal Court’s position on arrest warrants for senior Taliban leaders, saying Afghanistan does not recognize the court or its decisions.

Mujahid said in a statement late Monday, October 5, that the Taliban condemned what he described as the ICC’s position calling for the arrest of Afghan leaders. He said Afghanistan does not recognize any court operating under the title of the “International Criminal Court” and attaches no significance to its positions.

He also claimed that Taliban leaders had committed no acts that would warrant their arrest or punishment. “We are bound by the rulings of Islamic Sharia and its courts, not by intelligence entities or so-called courts,” Mujahid said.

The ICC on October 5 unsealed four arrest warrants issued against Taliban leaders Hibatullah Akhundzada, Abdul Hakim Haqqani, Habibullah Agha and Neda Mohammad Nadim. The court said there were reasonable grounds to believe the four were criminally responsible for the alleged crime against humanity of persecution on gender grounds.

Mujahid called on international institutions to avoid, in his words, making claims beyond their jurisdiction and authority in order to preserve their credibility.