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Sunday, 1 November, 2020 - 07:00
A Qatar Airways aircraft seen at Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar. Reuters file photo
London - Asharq Al-Awsat
Britain has said that it was awaiting the final report on the investigation behind "illegal" gynecological searches performed on female travelers at Qatar’s main airport, while Australia hoped for a “transparent” legal process.
Women on 10 flights out of Doha, including at least 13 Australians and two British women, were subject to the examinations as authorities searched for the mother of a newborn child abandoned in the airport bathroom on October 2.
Qatar, which has faced international condemnation over the incident, said on Friday that those responsible had been referred for prosecution over the "violations.”
"The preliminary investigation has shown that illegal actions took place, and it is an important step that those responsible have been referred to the public prosecutor's office," a spokesman for Britain's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said in a statement on Saturday.
"This was a deeply distressing incident for the women involved, and it is important we continue to respect their privacy," the spokesman said, noting that Britain's Middle East Minister James Cleverly had spoken to his Qatari opposite number about the issue.
The spokesman added that the UK was waiting for the final report on the investigation.
Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said Saturday she had spoken to her Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who "conveyed his sincere apology" and "provided a strong assurance that Qatar fully recognizes the seriousness of these events and will ensure that they are never repeated.”
"We very much welcome the acknowledgement by the government of Qatar in relation to the events that occurred in Hamad airport recently. We welcome the investigative process they have undertaken," she told reporters.
Payne hoped the legal process was "transparent and appropriate and proportionate.”
The incident only came to light in the last week after affected Australian passengers spoke out.
Australia has since said 13 of its citizens had to endure the "appalling" examinations, while Britain said it is providing support for two women.
New Zealand has also revealed that one of its citizens was among the women subjected to the examinations, and a French woman was also reportedly affected.
Qatar said the abandoned baby girl -- who survived -- was wrapped in plastic and left to die in a bathroom rubbish bin, prompting what sources said was a lockdown of Hamad International Airport.
Women were then led from aircraft to ambulances on the tarmac where they were subject to invasive examinations to see if they had recently given birth.
https://english.aawsat.com/home/art...-report-invasive-qatar-airport-searches-women
A Qatar Airways aircraft seen at Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar. Reuters file photo
London - Asharq Al-Awsat
Britain has said that it was awaiting the final report on the investigation behind "illegal" gynecological searches performed on female travelers at Qatar’s main airport, while Australia hoped for a “transparent” legal process.
Women on 10 flights out of Doha, including at least 13 Australians and two British women, were subject to the examinations as authorities searched for the mother of a newborn child abandoned in the airport bathroom on October 2.
Qatar, which has faced international condemnation over the incident, said on Friday that those responsible had been referred for prosecution over the "violations.”
"The preliminary investigation has shown that illegal actions took place, and it is an important step that those responsible have been referred to the public prosecutor's office," a spokesman for Britain's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said in a statement on Saturday.
"This was a deeply distressing incident for the women involved, and it is important we continue to respect their privacy," the spokesman said, noting that Britain's Middle East Minister James Cleverly had spoken to his Qatari opposite number about the issue.
The spokesman added that the UK was waiting for the final report on the investigation.
Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said Saturday she had spoken to her Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who "conveyed his sincere apology" and "provided a strong assurance that Qatar fully recognizes the seriousness of these events and will ensure that they are never repeated.”
"We very much welcome the acknowledgement by the government of Qatar in relation to the events that occurred in Hamad airport recently. We welcome the investigative process they have undertaken," she told reporters.
Payne hoped the legal process was "transparent and appropriate and proportionate.”
The incident only came to light in the last week after affected Australian passengers spoke out.
Australia has since said 13 of its citizens had to endure the "appalling" examinations, while Britain said it is providing support for two women.
New Zealand has also revealed that one of its citizens was among the women subjected to the examinations, and a French woman was also reportedly affected.
Qatar said the abandoned baby girl -- who survived -- was wrapped in plastic and left to die in a bathroom rubbish bin, prompting what sources said was a lockdown of Hamad International Airport.
Women were then led from aircraft to ambulances on the tarmac where they were subject to invasive examinations to see if they had recently given birth.
https://english.aawsat.com/home/art...-report-invasive-qatar-airport-searches-women
