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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/12/rahaf-al-qunun-lands-in-toronto-after-long-journey-to-safety-saudi-teen-canada
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| Rahaf al-Qunun lands in Toronto after long journey to safety | Rahaf al-Qunun lands in Toronto after long journey to safety |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Saudi woman who barricaded herself in a Thai hotel room in a desperate attempt to flee abuse landed in Canada on Saturday, capping a tumultuous and uncertain journey towards safety. | The Saudi woman who barricaded herself in a Thai hotel room in a desperate attempt to flee abuse landed in Canada on Saturday, capping a tumultuous and uncertain journey towards safety. |
| Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun arrived in Toronto, the country’s largest city, tweeting “OMG … I’m in Canada everyone” and posting a video of her plane touching down at Pearson International airport. | Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun arrived in Toronto, the country’s largest city, tweeting “OMG … I’m in Canada everyone” and posting a video of her plane touching down at Pearson International airport. |
| As she entered the arrivals area, she was accompanied by Canada’s minister of foreign affairs, Chrystia Freeland, who has been a vocal critic of Saudi Arabia’s jailing of female dissidents. | As she entered the arrivals area, she was accompanied by Canada’s minister of foreign affairs, Chrystia Freeland, who has been a vocal critic of Saudi Arabia’s jailing of female dissidents. |
| “This is Rahaf al-Qunun, a very brave new Canadian,” Freeland told reporters, holding on to al-Qunun, who was wearing a ‘Canada’ sweatshirt. | |
| The 18-year-old’s fight against deportation from Thailand as she tried to claim asylum captivated a global audience through her Twitter account, which now has nearly 150,000 followers. | The 18-year-old’s fight against deportation from Thailand as she tried to claim asylum captivated a global audience through her Twitter account, which now has nearly 150,000 followers. |
| Rahaf and Hakeem: why has one refugee captured the world's attention while another is left in jail? | Helen Davidson | Rahaf and Hakeem: why has one refugee captured the world's attention while another is left in jail? | Helen Davidson |
| A number of countries had expressed interest in resettling al-Qunun, including Australia, which was her first choice – but it was Canada that acted quickly. | A number of countries had expressed interest in resettling al-Qunun, including Australia, which was her first choice – but it was Canada that acted quickly. |
| “That is something that we are pleased to do because 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,” the prime minister, Justin Trudeau, told reporters on Friday. | “That is something that we are pleased to do because 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,” the prime minister, Justin Trudeau, told reporters on Friday. |
| The head of Canada’s United Nations refugee office, Jean-Nicolas Beuze, tweeted his thanks to the country for “having acted swiftly in providing a long-term solution”. | The head of Canada’s United Nations refugee office, Jean-Nicolas Beuze, tweeted his thanks to the country for “having acted swiftly in providing a long-term solution”. |
| “Women refugees at risk because of their gender are prioritised for resettlement & we know they can count on Canada,” he wrote. | “Women refugees at risk because of their gender are prioritised for resettlement & we know they can count on Canada,” he wrote. |
| Trudeau downplayed the symbolism of Canada’s offer to resettle the young women; Canada and Saudi Arabia have been at odds over the past year over the conservative kingdom’s human rights record. Last summer, a tweet in Arabic, sent by Global Affairs Canada, set off a diplomatic row between the two nations, in which Canadian diplomats were expelled from the kingdom, Saudi students in Canada were recalled and the Saudi government sold numerous Canadian equities and currency holdings. | Trudeau downplayed the symbolism of Canada’s offer to resettle the young women; Canada and Saudi Arabia have been at odds over the past year over the conservative kingdom’s human rights record. Last summer, a tweet in Arabic, sent by Global Affairs Canada, set off a diplomatic row between the two nations, in which Canadian diplomats were expelled from the kingdom, Saudi students in Canada were recalled and the Saudi government sold numerous Canadian equities and currency holdings. |
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