The International Criminal Court on Tuesday (July 8) issued arrest warrants for two Taliban leaders in Afghanistan including supreme spiritual leader Haibatullah Akhundzada, accusing them of the persecution of women and girls.

The ICC said there are reasonable grounds to believe that Akhundzada and Abdul Hakim Haqqani, Chief Justice of the Taliban, have committed the crime against humanity of persecution on gender grounds against girls, women and other persons non-conforming with the Taliban's policy on gender, gender identity or expression.

Western diplomats say the Taliban's path towards wider international recognition is blocked until it changes course on women's rights. The Taliban has closed high schools and universities to girls and women and placed restrictions on their movement without a male guardian. It says it respects women's rights in line with its strict interpretation of Islamic law.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF TALIBAN LEADER MULLAH HAIBATULLAH AKHUNDZADA / FILE OF BURQA SHOPS AT DOWNTOWN BAZAAR/ FILE OF PEOPLE WALKING AT THE BAZAAR/FILE OF THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT/

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SHOWS: UNKNOWN LOCATION (FILE) (SOCIAL MEDIA WEBSITE - Access all) (MUTE)

1. FILE PHOTOGRAPH OF TALIBAN LEADER MULLAH HAIBATULLAH AKHUNDZADA

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (FILE - May 7, 2022) (Reuters – Access All)

2. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE AT A DOWNTOWN BAZAAR / WOMEN AT THE BAZAAR

THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS (FILE - NOVEMBER 2024) (REUTERS - Access all)

3. THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL (ICC) COURT SIGN

THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS (FILE - MAY 2024) (REUTERS - Access all)

4. VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT

THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS (FILE - NOVEMBER 2024) (REUTERS - Access all)