UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett described the International Criminal Court prosecutor’s request for an arrest warrant for Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada as a “crucial step forward for accountability.”
Bennett said the move sends a strong message to Taliban leaders that they will be held accountable for their “egregious crimes.”
The ICC prosecutor has also announced an application for an arrest warrant for Abdul Hakim Haqqani, the Taliban’s Chief Justice.
“This step also signals to the people of Afghanistan that their rights have not been forgotten,” Bennett said, adding that he would issue a formal statement on the matter soon.
The International Criminal Court has accused Akhundzada and Haqqani of crimes against humanity.
