Wellington: A pregnant New Zealand journalist has refused to re-enter her country to give birth, saying she has been offered asylum by the Afghan Taliban instead.
"It just sounds like a breach of trust," she said in an interview with Radio New Zealand on Sunday (30 January).
Ms Charlotte Bayliss was working for Al Jazeera in Afghanistan, where her photographer partner Jim Hulebrock is also based.
But it wasn't until she returned to Al Jazeera's headquarters in Doha, Qatar, that she realized she was pregnant.
Being pregnant and unmarried is illegal in Qatar, so Ms Bellis kept the pregnancy a secret as she prepared to return to New Zealand.
When told that she does not qualify for exemptions under New Zealand's strict COVID-19-enforced border controls and that she and Mr Hulebrock have visas to live in Afghanistan as well, Ms Bayliss said she had contacted senior Taliban contacts. Was called and was told that she could give. born there.
"We're happy for you, you can come and you won't have any problems," Ms Bellis said as the Taliban told her in an interview with the New Zealand Herald.
"Don't worry. Everything will be fine," she said.
"In my time of need, the New Zealand government said you are not welcome here.
"When the Taliban offers you - a pregnant, unmarried woman - safe haven, you know your situation is messed up."
After going public about her position and involving lawyers, Ms Bellis said she was contacted by New Zealand officials, who said her rejected application was being reviewed.
The government's COVID-19 response minister Chris Hipkins said he had asked officials to examine whether due procedures were followed in Ms Bellis's case, "which at first glance appeared to warrant further clarification".