The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Monday unsealed arrest warrants for two Afghan education ministers accused of committing crimes against humanity through the Taliban government's restrictions on women and girls.
The warrants, for Habibullah Agha, minister of education, and Neda Mohammad Nadeem, minister of higher education, were issued on September 9, 2025, and remained under seal until Monday.
The two officials are accused of gender-based persecution linked to policies that have barred girls over the age of 12 from school and excluded women from higher education following the Taliban's return to power in August 2021.
The ICC warrants were likely to increase international pressure on the Taliban government.
It said the persecution was directed against women and girls, and the deprivation of their fundamental rights was committed "in connection with" other alleged crimes under the Taliban government's policies, including "imprisonment, torture, rape and enforced disappearance".
The court said the alleged crimes were committed in Afghanistan from the Taliban's takeover until at least January 20, 2025.
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