New Zealand defends strict Covid quarantine after pregnant journalist ‘had to turn to Taliban’ for help

Charlotte Bellis, a journalist, says she was forced to return to Afghanistan after her application was met with clauses and technicalities and confusion'

The New Zealand government has defended its strict quarantine system known as MIQ after a pregnant New Zealand journalist said she had to turn to the Taliban for help after her requests to get back to her own country were rejected.

Charlotte Bellis discovered she was pregnant a short time after gaining international attention in 2021 for questioning Taliban leaders about their treatment of women and girls. She is due to give birth in May.