The International Criminal Court’s Afghanistan investigation has been on hold for more than two years. In March 2020 the previous Afghan government had asked it to be suspended while they investigated war crimes themselves, informs news agency Reuters.
In documents released on ICC’s website this week and dated on 26 August, prosecutor Karim Khan argued that Afghanistan’s request, to suspend the investigation, should be rejected. He said that Afghanistan authorities hasn’t tried to pursue justice in domestic courts.
Karim Khan said the Taliban «have not continued, cannot continue and do not intend to continue the relevant investigations and prosecutions» that formed the basis of the request for suspension by the ousted government.
«the available information suggests that serious crimes within the jurisdiction of the court (…) continue to be committed,» said the prosecutor.
In July, the UN mission in Afghanistan said that the ruling Taliban were responsible for extrajudicial killings, torture, arbitrary arrests and inhumane punishments in the months since they toppled the previous government and seized power after Washington’s withdrawal from the country.
There is no set deadline for judges to rule on the prosecution’s request to resume the ICC investigation.