Women | European Parliament gives 2026 Sakharov Prize to the International Criminal Court, which issued arrest warrants for four Taliban leaders over gender persecution

ACW | October 22, 2026 — European Parliament President Roberta Metsola announced on Thursday that the 2026 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought goes to the International Criminal Court (ICC), the court that has issued arrest warrants for four Taliban leaders.

According to the European Parliament President's website, the prize was awarded to the court and its officials. "The European Union is built on respect for multilateralism and international institutions," Metsola said, adding that the prize "recognises the important work of the Court in upholding international law and justice."

Euronews reported that the Socialists and Democrats group had nominated the court. The other two finalists were Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu and Iranian sisters Taraneh and Romina Rahimi.

According to Euronews, the decision came days after the Trump administration announced sanctions against the court on October 9. French MEP Chloé Ridel, who nominated the ICC, called it "a message of hope and resistance sent to Donald Trump."

Afghanistan International reported that the ICC issued arrest warrants on July 8, 2025, for Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada and the group's chief justice, Abdul Hakim Haqqani, on charges of gender persecution. On October 5, 2026, according to Courthouse News, the court also unsealed warrants for the Taliban's education minister, Habibullah Agha, and higher education minister, Neda Mohammad Nadim.

According to EU Neighbours East, the award ceremony will be held in Strasbourg on December 16, 2026. The Taliban had not commented on the award at the time of publication.

Background: Afghanistan International reported that the new warrants concern the two ministers' direct role in systematically barring women and girls from education. Earlier, it was reported that the European Parliament is considering recognising gender apartheid in Afghanistan.

Why it matters: The Sakharov Prize is the European Union's top human rights honour, according to the Associated Press. It now goes to the court prosecuting the persecution of Afghan women and girls as a crime against humanity.

ACW will continue to follow this story.

Sources: Afghanistan International — Sakharov Prize for the ICC; European Parliament President — 2026 Sakharov Prize announcement; Euronews — EU Parliament awards Sakharov Prize to ICC

Photo: European Parliament