The Taliban rejected the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) request to arrest two top officials, including leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, over persecution of women.

The ICC’s move, hailed by Afghan women’s groups as a step toward justice, drew condemnation from the Taliban, who accused the court of baseless accusations and ignoring foreign forces’ past crimes.

Critics fear the Taliban may exploit the decision for propaganda, the Associated Press has reported.

Meanwhile, the UN criticized the Taliban’s ongoing ban on girls’ education, calling it a “tragedy and travesty” as Afghanistan remains the only country barring women from all levels of education.

Written by B.C. Begley