On January 26, 2025, hundreds of Afghan Taliban supporters staged a rally in Ghazni city, rejecting the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) recent move to seek arrest warrants for top Taliban leaders. The ICC accused Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada and Chief Justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani of crimes against humanity, particularly regarding restrictions on women’s rights.
Protesters chanted slogans such as “Death to America” and “Long live the Islamic Emirate,” showing their loyalty to the Taliban government. Noorulhaq Omar, a participant, stated, “The ICC’s decision is cruel and rejected by Afghans. Our nation stands firmly behind its emir.”
The rally included officials like Hamidullah Nisar, Ghazni’s information and culture department head, who called on the ICC to withdraw its claims. “We totally reject the ICC’s allegations against the Islamic Emirate’s leadership,” he added.
This protest follows the ICC’s January 23 announcement of seeking arrest warrants, citing the Taliban’s bans on women’s education, employment, and participation in public life as crimes against humanity. The Taliban dismissed these allegations as “politically motivated” and stated they do not recognize the ICC’s authority.
The rally underscores rising tensions between the Taliban government and global institutions over human rights issues, particularly concerning women and girls in Afghanistan.
