30 Jan 2022

Charlotte Bellis: 'I'm one of your people and I need help'

From Sunday Morning, 10:53 am on 30 January 2022

Pregnant New Zealand journalist Charlotte Bellis feels let down by her country after failing to gain an MIQ spot and being forced to seek safe refuge in Afghanistan as she awaits the birth of her first child. Bellis says she and her photographer partner, Jim Huylebroek, submitted 59 documents in their application to gain an emergency MIQ spot (including a supporting letter from Sir Peter Gluckman on the consequences of stress on a pregnant woman and her baby) but were told they hadn't provided enough evidence to meet the threshold. She says it feels like a complete breach of trust. With the couple's baby due in May, Bellis says she isn't sure about her personal safety in Afghanistan, despite being given an assurance by senior Taliban officials. She joins the show to discuss her situation.

Charlotte Bellis asks a Taliban spokesperson about its commitment to rights for women.

Charlotte Bellis asks a Taliban spokesperson about its commitment to rights for women. Photo: screenshot / Al Jazeera