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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/11/canada-and-australia-in-talks-with-un-to-accept-saudi-asylum-seeker-rahaf-mohammed-al-qunun
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Saudi woman fleeing family flies to Canada after gaining asylum | Saudi woman fleeing family flies to Canada after gaining asylum |
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A Saudi woman who fled to Thailand saying she feared her family would kill her has been granted asylum in Canada and is on her way to the country, Thai officials have said. | A Saudi woman who fled to Thailand saying she feared her family would kill her has been granted asylum in Canada and is on her way to the country, Thai officials have said. |
Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, 18, boarded a Korean Air flight from Bangkok to Seoul on Friday night, they added. She is due to board a connecting flight to Canada from Incheon airport in Seoul. | Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, 18, boarded a Korean Air flight from Bangkok to Seoul on Friday night, they added. She is due to board a connecting flight to Canada from Incheon airport in Seoul. |
The Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau, confirmed on Friday that Qunun had been granted asylum. | The Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau, confirmed on Friday that Qunun had been granted asylum. |
He told reporters that the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) had asked Canada to take in Qunun. “Canada is a country that understands how important it is to stand up for human rights, to stand up for women’s rights around the world, and I can confirm that we have accepted the UN’s request,” he said. | He told reporters that the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) had asked Canada to take in Qunun. “Canada is a country that understands how important it is to stand up for human rights, to stand up for women’s rights around the world, and I can confirm that we have accepted the UN’s request,” he said. |
The decision is likely to exacerbate Canada’s already poor relations with Saudi Arabia, which last year barred the Canadian ambassador to Riyadh after Ottawa criticised Saudi authorities for detaining women’s’ activists. | |
Qunun arrived in Bangkok on 5 January and was initially denied entry. After a tense 48-hour standoff at Bangkok airport, some of it spent barricaded in a transit lounge hotel room, she was allowed to enter the country and has been processed as a refugee by the UNHCR. | Qunun arrived in Bangkok on 5 January and was initially denied entry. After a tense 48-hour standoff at Bangkok airport, some of it spent barricaded in a transit lounge hotel room, she was allowed to enter the country and has been processed as a refugee by the UNHCR. |
She has accused her family of abuse and refused to meet her father and brother, who had arrived in Bangkok to try to take her back to Saudi Arabia. | She has accused her family of abuse and refused to meet her father and brother, who had arrived in Bangkok to try to take her back to Saudi Arabia. |
Her case has brought global attention to Saudi Arabia’s strict social rules, including a requirement that women have the permission of a male guardian to travel, which rights groups say can trap women and girls as prisoners of abusive families. | Her case has brought global attention to Saudi Arabia’s strict social rules, including a requirement that women have the permission of a male guardian to travel, which rights groups say can trap women and girls as prisoners of abusive families. |
Qunun’s plight has emerged at a time when Riyadh is facing intense scrutiny from western allies over the killing of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul and the humanitarian consequences of its war in Yemen. | Qunun’s plight has emerged at a time when Riyadh is facing intense scrutiny from western allies over the killing of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul and the humanitarian consequences of its war in Yemen. |
Australia said on Wednesday it was considering taking in Qunun. | Australia said on Wednesday it was considering taking in Qunun. |
Saudi Arabia | Saudi Arabia |
Thailand | Thailand |
Canada | Canada |
Middle East and North Africa | Middle East and North Africa |
Asia Pacific | Asia Pacific |
Refugees | Refugees |
Justin Trudeau | Justin Trudeau |
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