Arrest Warrants for Two Taliban Officials; Rawadari Calls for Accountability Regarding Violations of Women's Rights

The human rights organization "Rawadari" has welcomed the issuance of arrest warrants for two senior Taliban officials, viewing this move as part of the judicial process addressing allegations of widespread violations of the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan.

In a statement issued today, Tuesday (October 5), the organization noted that the arrest warrants for Habibullah Agha, the Taliban’s Acting Minister of Education, and Neda Mohammad Nadim, the Taliban’s Acting Minister of Higher Education, were issued in connection with charges including "gender-based persecution" against women and girls, as well as the harassment and persecution of those opposed to Taliban policies.

Rawadari emphasized that depriving Afghan women and girls of their fundamental rights—including education, employment, freedom of movement, and participation in social and public life—has had profound consequences for the lives of millions of women and girls over the past years.

The organization urged governments to take the decisions of international judicial bodies seriously and to support international justice mechanisms in addressing human rights violations and combating impunity.

Rawadari also expressed appreciation for the Afghan women and girls, victims' families, human rights defenders, civil society activists, and journalists who—despite existing restrictions—have continued to document human rights violations and advocate for victims.

The organization stressed that allegations concerning international crimes and serious human rights violations must be investigated through independent, impartial processes in accordance with legal standards, and that victims must have access to justice. On Monday, October 5, the International Criminal Court made public the arrest warrants for Habibullah Agha and Neda Mohammad Nadim. These warrants were issued as part of the ongoing judicial proceedings concerning the Afghanistan case.

Previously, the International Criminal Court had also issued arrest warrants for Hibatullah Akhundzada, the Taliban leader, and Abdul Hakim Haqqani, the head of the Taliban's judiciary.

Report by Shahbanoo Nouri