An Afghan women’s organisation on Friday applauded the International Criminal Court’s decision to issue arrest warrants for Taliban leaders over their persecution of women, reports AP.

Karim Khan, the ICC’s chief prosecutor, announced on Thursday that he had sought arrest warrants for two senior Taliban officials, including their leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada.

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Since reclaiming control of Afghanistan in 2021, the Taliban have imposed restrictions barring women from employment, most public spaces, and education beyond the sixth grade.

In a statement, the Afghan Women’s Movement for Justice and Awareness welcomed the ICC’s move, describing it as a “significant historical milestone.”

“We view this as a testament to the resilience and determination of Afghan women, and we believe this action marks the beginning of a new era of accountability and justice in the country,” the group stated.

The Taliban government has not yet commented on the court’s decision.

A former official from the Western-backed administration cautioned that the Taliban might use the ruling for propaganda purposes, portraying it as evidence of their unwavering faith and strength.

“They could tell their followers that their convictions are so formidable they have provoked unified global opposition,” Mohammad Halim Fidai posted on the X platform. Fidai, a former governor of four provinces before the Taliban takeover, now resides outside Afghanistan. “This decision might inadvertently enhance their credibility or serve as a badge of honour.”

Meanwhile, the U.N. mission in Afghanistan described the ongoing denial of education to girls as a “tragedy and travesty.”

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“It has been 1,225 days — almost four years — since authorities imposed a ban preventing girls over the age of 12 from attending school,” said Roza Otunbayeva, head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan. “Millions of Afghan girls have been denied their fundamental right to education, which is both a tragedy and a travesty.”

Afghanistan remains the only country globally to explicitly prohibit women and girls from all levels of education, Otunbayeva added.