'War Crime' : Danish Siddiqui's Parents Approach International Criminal Court Against Taliban

The parents of Danish Siddiqui, the Pulitzer award-winning photojournalist of Reuters, have approached the International Criminal Court against Taliban for the killing of their son in Afghanistan in July 2021.

Professor Akhtar Siddiqui and Mrs.Shahida Akhtar, the parents of Siddiqui, have filed a complaint with the ICC prosecutor to investigate his killing and bring those responsible, including leaders and high level commanders of the Taliban, to justice.

Siddiqui was killed on July 16, 2021 in Spin Boldak in Afghanistan in an attack by Taliban while he was covering the Afghanistan war as a journalist embedded with the Afghan special forces. The parents alleged that Siddiqui was taken into custody by the Taliban and was tortured to death and that his body was mutilated after his death.

"Danish our loving son was murdered by the Taliban for simply carrying out his journalistic duties", said Shahida Akhtar.

The International Criminal Court has been engaged in an ongoing investigation on international crimes, including crimes against humanity and war crimes in Afghanistan, over which it has jurisdiction after Afghanistan's government acceded to the Rome Statute.

"The Taliban targeted and killed Danish because he was a journalist and an Indian. This is an international crime. In absence of rule of law in Afghanistan, the ICC has jurisdiction to investigate and try the perpetrators of Danish's murder. As the Taliban strives for international legitimacy, it must face accountability for its past actions", Avi Singh at Cicero Chambers, who is representing Siddiqui's parents, said.

It was alleged that the torture and killing constitutes not only a murder but also a crime against humanity and a war crime.

The complaint names following top Taliban leaders :

Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, Supreme Commander of the Taliban

Mullah Hassan Akhund, Head of Taliban Leadership Council.

Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Chief Spokesperson and Head of Taliban's Political Office at Qatar.

Mawlawi Muhammad Yaqoob Mujahid, Minister of Defence, Taliban.

Gul Agha Sherzai, Governor of Kandahar Province.

Zabbihullah Mujahid, Taliban Spokesperson