Qatar apologizing for invasively examining Australian passengers

Amira al-Sharif

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdul Aziz al-Thani has conceded that women on board of a plane at an airport in Doha were subjected to an invasive examination by airport authorities.

He made the confession in an attempt to reduce international anger at the incident.

Al-Thani made an official apology, describing the event as “unacceptable” and “unprecedented”.

The incident dates back to Oct. 2 when 18 women were taken off one plane – among them two British women and 13 Australian citizens – and checked for whether they had given birth after a baby was found in a bin at Hamad Airport.

The Qatari government said the baby girl had been found in a plastic bag, buried under rubbish, prompting an “immediate search for the parents, including on flights in the vicinity of where the newborn was found”.

The Australian government denounced the invasive search of the women and accused the Qatari government of harassing its nationals.

The invasive searches came to light this week after passengers contacted authorities in Australia.

Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said on Wednesday that women on 10 flights had been subjected to examinations. Beyond the 13 Australians, she did not reveal the nationalities of other women affected.

Australian media have previously reported that all adult women who had boarded one plane from Doha to Sydney were ordered to disembark.

Director of the Arab-Australian Center for Studies Ahmed al-Yasri said Qatar views the event as a passing incident.

However, this shows the lack of understanding in Qatar of laws in Australia, he said.

Yasri noted that the laws of Australia work primarily to protect Australian nationals.