Australians threaten to sue Qatar amid human rights criticism after Doha airport incident

Hani Daniel

The crisis between Australia and Qatar has escalated against the background of the inspection and stripping of a number of women at Doha airport. The Australian authorities are conducting an investigation in this regard following the case, amid the threat of a number of victims to sue Doha and coordinate among victims of different nationalities in this regard to force Doha to apologize, emphasizing that this step will not occur easily.

Under international pressure, Doha was forced to apologize for the incident, promising to conduct investigations in this regard and to punish those responsible, even if the aim was to search for a woman who placed a newborn baby in a garbage bin at Doha airport, as they searched a number of passengers for ten flights that arrived at Doha airport on that day.

For his part, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed that Australia’s strong objections and views regarding the incident, while Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani ordered an investigation into the incident in which women had been forced to disembark from planes at Hamad International Airport and undergo a thorough physical examination inside ambulances.

Frances Adamson, Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said that the other countries affected by the incident absolutely agree with Australia in its views and the strength of its position, as this was by no means normal behavior, and that the Qataris realized it caused a state of panic, which Australia does not want to happen again.

Adamson explained that Australia learned of the incident through an Australian diplomat who was on board the plane, adding that the diplomat was not subjected to the examination process. She noted that the Qatari investigation is to determine which laws have been violated and which individuals are responsible, as well as to recommend disciplinary measures and prosecution when necessary.

Reports confirmed that the aim of the examination was to prevent the perpetrators of the horrific crime from fleeing and that Qatar regrets any harm or assault on the personal freedoms of any traveler caused by this act.

Officials in Australia are discussing the questioning of 18 women on a Qatar Airways flight to Sydney, which nine other flights were inspected. Australia is working closely with other countries on the issue without naming those countries.

International human rights criticisms against Doha escalated due to these measures, and many international organizations issued reports regarding the violations of women travelers and their being exposed in this humiliating manner. This comes amid pledges by lawyers for the families of the victims to file compensation lawsuits before international bodies to prosecute Doha, not being satisfied with only statements and an apology.

At the same time, a number of countries are considering preventing Qatari airlines from flying in their airspace in light of Doha’s recent violations, especially since this step is not in line with international conventions and pledges related to freedom of travel and air navigation, which means that the next period will, according to experts, place Qatar Airways under scrutiny, while the airline is suffering from a major crisis due to the losses it has incurred as a result of the corona pandemic.

Despite Qatari officials’ reassurances about what happened and trying to win over the families of the victims and provide them with compensation in order to prevent the matter from reaching the judiciary, the Australian government’s solidarity with the victims stands as a major obstacle to Doha’s maneuvers. Qatar has found itself in a major international crisis due to this incident, which has received the disapproval of international human rights organizations and English newspapers.