A Number of Bamyan Citizens Protested Against the Request for an Arrest Warrant for the Leader and Chief Justice of Afghanistan’s Caretaker government.

On Saturday, January 25, 2025, several residents of Bamyan province protested against the request made by the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague to issue an arrest warrant for Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, the leader, and Abdul Hakim Haqqani, the Chief Justice of Afghanistan’s caretaker government.

According to Bakhtar News Agency, the participants in the protest described the arrest warrant issued by the ICC as unjust and called for its reconsideration.

Sayyed Nasrullah Wa’ezi, head of the Shia Scholars Council in Bamyan, was quoted in the report as saying, “Today, the people of Afghanistan live in complete security. You cannot tolerate the peaceful and secure life of the Afghan people, so the ICC orders that the leader and Chief Justice of the Islamic Emirate be brought to the international court. What is their crime? Are they being prosecuted for ensuring security and restoring the dignity of the Afghan people?”

Wa’ezi also criticized the ICC, stating, “During the Russian and American invasions, when bombs rained from the sky on Afghan people and innocent children were torn apart in front of their parents, just like the children of Gaza and Lebanon, you took no action and did not hear the cries of the oppressed Afghan people at that time.”

According to Bakhtar News Agency, Mohammad Sajad Mohseni, a religious scholar in Bamyan who participated in the protest, condemned the ICC’s request for an arrest warrant for the leadership of the government and the Chief Justice. He added that they would never bow to the United States or Israel, as he claimed these nations lack commitment, faith, and principles and aim to oppress defenseless nations.

The report also mentioned that Hosna Ahmadi, a female participant in the protest, described the ICC’s decision as illegal and unjust. She stated that they would not allow anyone or any country to interfere with their religion and beliefs.

It should be noted that no arrest warrant has yet been issued for Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada or the Chief Justice of Afghanistan’s caretaker government. However, on January 23, 2025, Karim Khan, one of the special prosecutors of the ICC, issued a statement requesting the judges of the court to issue an arrest warrant for these individuals. In his statement, Khan claimed that after a thorough investigation and the collection of evidence, they have reached reasonable grounds to hold Mullah Hibatullah, the leader of the caretaker government, and Abdul Hakim Haqqani, the Chief Justice of Afghanistan, accountable for crimes against humanity, including persecution and torture on the basis of gender, under Article 7 of the Rome Statute.