By Mustafa Makumba

In a landmark decision, the International Criminal Court (ICC) recently issued arrest warrants against the Taliban’s Supreme Leader Haibatullah Akhundzada and Chief Justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani. The charges centre on their systematic oppression of women and girls in Afghanistan, denying them education, work, and basic freedoms. It’s the first time the ICC has formally recognised gender persecution as a crime against humanity under international law.

Islamic tradition has always placed immense value on knowledge, dignity, and justice, for men and women alike. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim” (Ibn Majah). Nowhere does this hadith exclude women. In fact, Islamic history is rich with examples of female scholars, businesswomen, and community leaders. Figures like Aisha bint Abu Bakr, one of Islam’s most respected scholars, and Nusaybah bint Ka’ab, a warrior who defended the Prophet (peace be upon him) in battle, are testimonies to that legacy.

The Taliban’s ban on girls’ education and work doesn’t represent a conservative reading of Islam, it represents a betrayal of its core principles. The Qur’an describes both men and women as equal partners in faith and responsibility: “The believing men and the believing women are allies of one another; they enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong” (Qur’an 9:71). Islam’s moral framework is built on accountability and justice, values meant to protect the weak and restrain the powerful. Yet, the Taliban leadership has used religious language as a shield for oppression.

This is why the ICC’s arrest warrants matter beyond politics or legal process. They serve as a global reminder that no government or armed group can hide abuses behind claims of piety. Islam does not belong to tyrants, militias, or politicians. It belongs to communities built on compassion, fairness, and the protection of dignity, especially for the vulnerable.

Historically, Islamic scholars have warned against rulers who weaponise faith for control. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said of future leaders: “There will come rulers after me, whoever enters their circles and helps them in their oppression… is not of me, and I am not of him” (Musnad Ahmad). This hadith isn’t about distant tyrannies, it speaks directly to situations like Afghanistan today.

The charges laid out by the ICC reflect what moral traditions have long upheld: when power denies women their basic rights to education and health, it doesn’t only harm individuals as it cripples societies. Islam, like other ethical systems, teaches that a healthy society is one where both men and women thrive. The Prophet (peace be upon him) himself built a community where women debated, taught, and worked, side by side with men.