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| Rahaf Mohammed: Saudi teen says fleeing 'worth the risk' | Rahaf Mohammed: Saudi teen says fleeing 'worth the risk' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A Saudi teenager who fled her family and claimed asylum in Canada has said the journey was "worth the risk" so she could live a more independent life. | A Saudi teenager who fled her family and claimed asylum in Canada has said the journey was "worth the risk" so she could live a more independent life. |
| Rahaf Mohammed, 18, locked herself in a Bangkok hotel room and refused to fly back home earlier this month. | Rahaf Mohammed, 18, locked herself in a Bangkok hotel room and refused to fly back home earlier this month. |
| She alleged that her family had abused her and said she feared she would be killed if she returned home. | She alleged that her family had abused her and said she feared she would be killed if she returned home. |
| "It's something that is worth the risk I took," she told the Toronto Star newspaper. "I had nothing to lose." | "It's something that is worth the risk I took," she told the Toronto Star newspaper. "I had nothing to lose." |
| "We are treated as an object, like a slave," she said. "I wanted to tell people my story and about what happens to Saudi women." | "We are treated as an object, like a slave," she said. "I wanted to tell people my story and about what happens to Saudi women." |
| She had been on a trip to Kuwait with her family when she fled on a flight to the Thai capital, saying she intended to take a connecting flight to Australia and had an Australian visa. | She had been on a trip to Kuwait with her family when she fled on a flight to the Thai capital, saying she intended to take a connecting flight to Australia and had an Australian visa. |
| But she says her passport was seized by a Saudi diplomat when he met her coming off the flight in Bangkok, leaving her stranded. | But she says her passport was seized by a Saudi diplomat when he met her coming off the flight in Bangkok, leaving her stranded. |
| Ms Mohammed - who has dropped al-Qunun from her name because her family has disowned her - then sent a series of tweets pleading for help from her airport hotel room. | Ms Mohammed - who has dropped al-Qunun from her name because her family has disowned her - then sent a series of tweets pleading for help from her airport hotel room. |
| Her case was picked up by Human Rights Watch and numerous journalists. Thailand allowed her to stay and the UN assessed her claim for asylum. | Her case was picked up by Human Rights Watch and numerous journalists. Thailand allowed her to stay and the UN assessed her claim for asylum. |
| "I never thought there was a 1 per cent chance that this could happen," she told the Toronto Star. "I feel very safe in Canada, a country that respects human rights." | "I never thought there was a 1 per cent chance that this could happen," she told the Toronto Star. "I feel very safe in Canada, a country that respects human rights." |
| She added: "I feel born again from feeling the love coming from everyone waiting for my arrival." | She added: "I feel born again from feeling the love coming from everyone waiting for my arrival." |
| Ms Mohammed says that, although the Canadian weather may take some getting used to, she is excited for the new experiences ahead. | Ms Mohammed says that, although the Canadian weather may take some getting used to, she is excited for the new experiences ahead. |
| "I will try things I haven't tried," she told the broadcaster CBC. "I will learn things I didn't learn. I will explore life.... I will have a job and live a normal life." |