Pregnant Journalist Rejected From Entering New Zealand, Turns to Taliban Instead

By Ana Chauhan

Charlotte Bellis, a Kiwi journalist, says she was forced to return to Afghanistan after her application to return home was rejected.

She was originally residing in Qatar whilst working for Al Jazeera when she discovered she was pregnant. As premarital sex is illegal in the country, Bellis had no choice but to leave.

Bellis and her partner Jim Huylebroek initially went to his home country Belgium. However, since she wasn’t a resident, she couldn’t stay long. The only other place where they had visas was Afghanistan.

She sent 59 documents to the New Zealand authorities, applying to return home, but was rejected.

Bellis contacted senior Taliban contacts who welcomed her to stay.

“When the Taliban offers you – a pregnant, unmarried woman – a safe haven, you know your situation is messed up”, said Bellis.