Ankara: Afghanistan's interim Taliban administration on Tuesday rejected the arrest warrants for its leader and justice chief issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC), stating that it does not recognize the court.

According to Anadolu Agency, the ICC issued warrants for Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada and Chief Justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani, accusing them of crimes against humanity and gender-based persecution in Afghanistan since the group's return to power in 2021.

The announcement was met with defiance from the Taliban administration. Zabihullah Mujahid, a top spokesman of the interim administration, shared on social media platform X that the declaration by the ICC was yet another instance of rhetoric from an institution operating under the guise of an international court. He emphasized that such statements would not alter the determination or stance of the Taliban administration.

Mujahid further stated that the interim administration does not recognize any entity under the title of the 'International Court' and holds no obligations toward it. He criticized the timing of the ICC's actions amid the ongoing conflict in Palestine, accusing the court of double standards when it comes to human rights and justice.

He also condemned the ICC's characterization of Islamic Sharia laws as oppressive, viewing the arrest warrants as an expression of enmity against Islam and its legal system.