Prosecutors at the International Criminal Court (ICC) have announced they are seeking arrest warrants against Taliban leaders Haibatullah Akhundzada and Abdul Hakim Haqqani for homophobic and transphobic persecution.
Commenting on the announcement, Peter Tatchell, LGBTQ+ rights campaigner, said: “For decades, LGBTQ+ people have been invisible and ignored in the quest for international justice. This move by the ICC finally recognises that homophobic and transphobic persecution is a crime against humanity. It’s a game-changer.
“The Taliban’s barbaric, murderous campaign against LGBTQ+ Afghans is an atrocity that demands accountability. This sends a clear message to oppressive regimes everywhere: persecuting LGBTQ+ people will not go unpunished.”

While LGBTQ+ people in Afghanistan have never enjoyed legal protections, the Taliban’s seizure of power heightened the dangers they face with LGBTQ+ people facing widespread discrimination and high rates of violence. As they took power, Taliban members immediately began targeting LGBTQ+ people.
“I was beaten and harassed by the Taliban many times just for being gay,” said Azar, a 20-year-old gay man in Kabul, whose name is changed for his safety.
LGBTQ+ Afghans also report the Taliban’s rise to power made them more vulnerable to violence from their families and communities. The Taliban’s Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice decree announced in August 2024 prohibits women from speaking in public also outlaws same-sex relationships.
“The Taliban has put me and my friends at risk and created a frightening space to live in. We expect the international community to support LGBTQ+ rights and stop discrimination against us in Afghanistan,” Azar added.
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