Amnesty International has declared the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest warrants for Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada and Chief Justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani as the most significant human rights achievement of 2025 so far. In its mid-year review released Monday, Amnesty highlighted 29 major wins across the globe, placing the ICC’s unprecedented move at the top. The warrants accusing the Taliban leaders of crimes against humanity mark the first public action by the ICC in Afghanistan since the country joined the court in 2003.
Calling it a “historic moment in the fight against impunity,” Amnesty said the decision delivered long-awaited recognition to the victims of Taliban atrocities, particularly Afghan women and minorities. The ICC’s announcement on July 8 drew strong support from international human rights organisations, Western governments, and Afghan rights defenders. The Taliban, however, rejected the court’s legitimacy and dismissed its impact.
Despite rising global instability, Amnesty’s report underscored that “activists continue to win justice and protect hope.” Other highlights in the review include the release of rights defenders in Saudi Arabia, U.S. sanctions on arms suppliers to Sudan, and new legislation to combat violence against women in Algeria.
