Social media users are worried that the news of the Taliban offering refuge to pregnant New Zealand journalist Charlotte Bellis would undermine the human rights violations committed by the group – especially the treatment of Afghan women.

“This is called playing with fire,” said a user on Twitter.

Another called Bellis “the western face of the Taliban PR machinery.”

According to The Guardian, Bellis was prevented from returning to New Zealand due to strict quarantine measures, after which she turned to the Taliban for help.

Bellis had previously criticised and called out the Taliban regime for the treatment of women, now that she had to do the same for her own government, she called it being “brutally ironic.”

Social media users lambasted the journalist for “serving free propaganda for the Taliban regime.”

“Afghan women don’t have the luxury of being treated like Charlotte Bellis,” said a user.

One person accused the group of taking advantage of the situation to “whitewash” themselves.

“It is a new way to normalise the Taliban,” said a user dedicating a Twitter thread to Bellis’ story.