Saudi woman in Thailand

Asylum plea to be considered: Australia

Australia said yesterday it will “carefully consider” the asylum claim of an 18-year-old Saudi woman who fled alleged abuse from her family and is now in the care of the UN in Bangkok, after she fended off deportation in a gripping, live-tweeted ordeal. Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun arrived at the Thai capital’s main airport on a flight from Kuwait over the weekend after running away from her family, who she says subjected her to physical and psychological abuse.

Qunun said she planned to seek asylum in Australia, fearing she would be killed if repatriated by Thai immigration officials who stopped her at the airport. Saudi Arabia’s human rights record has been under heavy scrutiny since the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi last year. The ultra-conservative kingdom has some of the world’s toughest restrictions on women, including a guardianship system that allows male family members to make decisions on behalf of female relatives.

On Sunday Thai authorities said Qunun would be sent back to Saudi Arabia, but they abruptly changed course as her plight pinballed across social media.

Qunun posted dozens of tweets and live videos in English and Arabic, some describing how she had barricaded herself in a hotel room. Her account quickly racked up tens of thousands of followers, feeding an international media frenzy.

On Monday she was allowed to leave the airport in the care of the UN’s refugee agency. The Australian government on Tuesday teased the possibility of granting the young woman refugee status, saying it was “pleased” the UN was assessing her claim. “Any application by Ms Al-Qunun for a humanitarian visa will be carefully considered once the UNHCR process has concluded,” a Department of Home Affairs official told AFP.

Saudi woman in Thailand

Asylum plea to be considered: Australia

Australia said yesterday it will carefully consider the asylum claim of an 18-year-old Saudi woman who fled alleged abuse from her family and is now in the care of the UN in Bangkok, after she fended off deportation in a gripping, live-tweeted ordeal. Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun arrived at the Thai capitals main airport on a flight from Kuwait over the weekend after running away from her family, who she says subjected her to physical and psychological abuse. Qunun said she planned to seek asylum in Australia, fearing she would be killed if repatriated by Thai immigration officials who stopped her at the airport. Saudi Arabias human rights record has been under heavy scrutiny since the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi last year. The ultra-conservative kingdom has some of the worlds toughest restrictions on women, including a guardianship system that allows male family members to make decisions on behalf of female relatives. On Sunday Thai authorities said Qunun would be sent back to Saudi Arabia, but they abruptly changed course as her plight pinballed across social media. Qunun posted dozens of tweets and live videos in English and Arabic, some describing how she had barricaded herself in a hotel room. Her account quickly racked up tens of thousands of followers, feeding an international media frenzy. On Monday she was allowed to leave the airport in the care of the UNs refugee agency. The Australian government on Tuesday teased the possibility of granting the young woman refugee status, saying it was pleased the UN was assessing her claim. Any application by Ms Al-Qunun for a humanitarian visa will be carefully considered once the UNHCR process has concluded, a Department of Home Affairs official told AFP.