Pregnant journalist who sought Taliban help finally allowed to enter New Zealand

Pregnant New Zealand journalist Charlotte Bellis who took refuge in Afghanistan pending her application to enter New Zealand has been allowed to return home.

Bellis is a freelance journalist, who served as a correspondent for Al Jazeera, among others. She wanted to return to her home country from Qatar, but she was not given permission. Bellis spoke to the media and her case sparked a discussion about the strict entry rules for New Zealand further.

Bellis worked in Qatar. In this country, however, it is a criminal offense to be pregnant without being married. She then traveled to Belgium, where her companion is from, but was unable to stay long enough on a tourist visa. Because she had a residence permit for Afghanistan, she contacted the Taliban, who assured her that nothing would happen to her.

The journalist says she will return to her home country in early March. She says she and her partner are happy to be in New Zealand for the birth “and to be surrounded by family and friends during such a special time”.

Although she is now allowed to enter the country, she did not receive permission because she is pregnant, but because of the risk she would face in Afghanistan.

Bellis says in a response that she’s disappointed her pregnancy isn’t enough of a reason for her to return. She says she will continue to fight for the government to “find a better way to regulate border control”.