Women to sue Qatar over invasive body searches at airport

Good luck with that. She should have known that this is Quatar and not Sweden.

Sydney-based firm Marque Lawyers, said seven affected passengers now plan legal action to "send a message to Qatari authorities that you can't treat women... in this manner."

Sturzaker said the lawsuit would be filed in Australia against the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority, Hamad International Airport, Qatar Airways and the country's government within weeks.

It will be interesting to watch whether Australians working in Qatar will later be hassled in some way by the Qatari regime. Like Saudi Arabia, Qatar is run by Salifist Muslims who could use their interpretations of Sharia Law to retaliate against Australians, maybe other 'westerners there, too. The next World Cup could better be watched on TV far from Doha, rather than from any venue in Qatar. But FIFA like the IOC care first and foremost about its bureaucrats lining their pockets. Just like Qatar's ruling family and the local tribe's supporting them. Neither FIFA, nor the IOC nor any of the Gulf's ruling families care two anythings for those not of a moneyed caste or tribe.

Good luck with that. She should have known that this is Quatar and not Sweden.

What on earth are you on about this time?

Airport gynecological searches are acceptable if you visit Qatar? Who is this singular ‘she’? Did you read the article?

Bob Fosse

What on earth are you on about this time?

Airport gynecological searches are acceptable if you visit Qatar?

What is acceptable in in Qatar is determined by Qatar law, which is Sharia based.

Who is this singular ‘she’? Did you read the article?

OK, "they". I suggest none of them bothered to read up on Shariah law.

Who would have guessed. I guess you can stop complaining about ‘authoritarian overreach’ and government control of freedoms now.

What kind of sick and perverted mind came up with the concept of punishable childbirth. I wish such evil didn't exist.

A lot of people talk about boycotting the Winter Olympics over Xinjiang, but people should instead pay attention to how Qatar treats its foreign population, who are not only subject to the rampant misogynic and homophobia present in the country, but millions of workers for the World Cup have been treated as slaves and thousands have been killed. The world cup is tainted by blood and we're forcing our women and LGBTQ to travel to a horrid country. Boycott!

Qatar - Sick and perverted culture, society and regime.

well its Qatar.their rules.you follow or refuse.but yes when money comes first...

Best of luck to them - get as much of that dirty oil money as you can

We should remember that the taliban criminals lived a comfortable life in Qatar for over 2 decades, getting legitimacy and it played a part in their eventual return. Qatar wants to be Saudi Arabia, using its oil wealth to bully their way across the world.

What they did to these women was shameful, however I doubt anything will come out of the suit.

The Saudis have been sued over 9/11, Khashogi murder and nothing ever came out of it!!!

OK, "they". I suggest none of them bothered to read up on Shariah law.

Every country has its own unique laws. The majority of your posts are criticising the laws of countries, across several continents, for restrictions on freedom.

What makes Shariah law and Qatar special for you?

A lot of people talk about boycotting the Winter Olympics over Xinjiang, but people should instead pay attention to how Qatar treats its foreign population, who are not only subject to the rampant misogynic and homophobia present in the country, but millions of workers for the World Cup have been treated as slaves and thousands have been killed. The world cup is tainted by blood and we're forcing our women and LGBTQ to travel to a horrid country. Boycott!

Very good post.

When you have oil and can fill as many brown envelopes as you like to bursting point, these things tend to go away- you can get a World Cup. I got the sense that the cloak of religion helped muffle a full-on attack on their disgraceful human rights record. You may have been called ‘Islamophobic’ from some.

OK, "they". I suggest none of them bothered to read up on Shariah law.

Have you? I regard Sharia or any religious-based law as an absolutely atrocious idea, but is this common practice in other societies with legal systems based on Sharia? My understanding is that Sharia is implemented differently in different societies.

What exactly should they have read here?

Bob Fosse

Every country has its own unique laws.

Yes, so?

The majority of your posts are criticising the laws of countries, across several continents, for restrictions on freedom.

I do criticize secular countries which are supposed to protect personal freedom for going authoritarian and restrict that freedom. Your point?

What makes Shariah law and Qatar special for you?

Nothing. It is a Shariah country. I did not say I like Sharia law, I just said these women seem blissfully unaware of it. Again, what is your point, if any.

Jimizo

Have you? I regard Sharia or any religious-based law as an absolutely atrocious idea, but is this common practice in other societies with legal systems based on Sharia? My understanding is that Sharia is implemented differently in different societies.

It is correct that Shariah is implemented to different degrees in different countries, but they should have known that in Qatar it is strict and they should know that the status of women and the crime of adultery is what it is under Sharia and not expect to be excempted from it while there.

They didn't just randomly "check women's bits" A new born baby was found abandoned in a toilet. They knew it was someone fro the 12 planes so "investigated". Rather poorly but in their mind it was the only option to find the mother.

Bob Fosse

Every country has its own unique laws.

Yes, so?

So, this argument can be used against you next time you get uppity about somewhere.

I do criticize secular countries which are supposed to protect personal freedom for going authoritarian and restrict that freedom. Your point?

Oh secular only. I see. Let’s both remember that for future reference.

I did not say I like Sharia law, I just said these women seem blissfully unaware of it. Again, what is your point, if any.

My point is simple. You blame these women for their violation. ‘Blissfully unaware’.

I very much doubt they knew someone would be invading their private parts upon landing or that it is acceptable to accept any female arriving in Qatar should expect such an inspection.

The World Cup should get a pamphlet out quick or there’s going to be a lot of rather surprised ladies.

Passengers in transit were forced unwillingly to have these gynaecological examinations – that is not the way to do it!

ZaphodToday  02:58 pm JST

What is acceptable in in Qatar is determined by Qatar law, which is Sharia based

OK, "they". I suggest none of them bothered to read up on Shariah law.

At the time, Qatar's Prime Minister Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani tweeted an apology saying: "We regret the unacceptable treatment of the female passengers... What took place does not reflect Qatar's laws or values." https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-59288177

The PM himself stated this practice is not part of Qatar's laws. So there was no point in them reading-up on Shariah Law. You clearly didn't bother to read-up on the story from better news sources.

The PM himself stated this practice is not part of Qatar's laws. So there was no point in them reading-up on Shariah Law. You clearly didn't bother to read-up on the story from better news sources.

The truth unfortunately doesn’t influence the opinions of some posters.

Thank you for this clarification.

All foreign women on that plane were forced at gunpoint to have an invasive gynacological examination. That is sexual assault. Even old women who could not have just given birth. The official who ordered this was convicted but did not go to prison. I don’t think this had much to do with trying to find the mother of the child.

But, as night follows day, all the victim blamers crawl out from under their stones.

Good luck with that. Like Qatar cares what an Australian court rules.

Luddite...

All foreign women on that plane were forced at gunpoint to have an invasive gynacological examination.

No, they were not forced at gunpoint. They would not be allowed to board their flight.

They deserve to win this lawsuit, except I don't think they will win much monetary award since this is Qatar we are talking about.

Bob Fosse

I very much doubt they knew someone would be invading their private parts upon landing

....upon leaving actually. And no, I did no say they should have expected that, but they should have known that Shariah law assigns women a status that allows such things.

or that it is acceptable to accept any female arriving in Qatar should expect such an inspection.

Nobody said that. But read up on how sex crimes are treated under Shariah. You are arguing against strawmen.

No, they were not forced at gunpoint. They would not be allowed to board their flight.

Maybe you should actually try to know what you are talking about, rather than just posting what you assumed to happened. They were forced off their plane at gunpoint, women only, taken to an ambulance, with armed guards outside the ambulance, and forced to remove their pants and underwear for a gynecological exam. Don't like the truth? Argue it with the woman to whom it happened. Here's her testimonial, on camera, for the world to see the truth.

https://youtu.be/JgIvt9nm_1M?t=365

I'm suspecting that Qatar, who has the CCP on their side, have been encouraging the CCP to have their propaganda machine get out and try to create propaganda on this incident so they don't look so bad. Mr. Kipling regularly makes posts that are directly in line with the CCP propaganda machine, and here is Mr. Kipling making what is clearly a wrong statement about this incident, to make it look like these women willingly took off their clothes and allowed themselves to be subjected to gynecological exams, just so they wouldn't be late for their flight or something.

If I were a woman, I would never take a flight transferring through Qatar unless and until they rectify this situation, and put forward measures to ensure it never happens again. Airlines that continue to use the Doha airport in the meantime should be called out for their willingness to put their passengers at risk. They should be taking measures to find other airports through which to transfer. This is not an acceptable incident. As passengers, we trust airports to respect our human rights, regardless of the feelings towards those human rights in those countries. If their airports are not willing to respect these human rights, then the airlines should not be using them.

I believe their should be sanctions - a tax put on any airline that uses the Doha airport. This is as egregious an offense as has ever happened by an airport authority.

Mr KiplingNov. 15  11:59 pm JST

Luddite...

All foreign women on that plane were forced at gunpoint to have an invasive gynacological examination.

No, they were not forced at gunpoint. They would not be allowed to board their flight.

They were on a flight, they were removed at gunpoint and ordered into the back of the ambulance and sexually assaulted. This is well documented, yet so many are making false statements and claims when commenting on this story.

Why anyone would try and make excuses for this crime is sickening. Why would anyone want to be an apologist for sexual assault?

@Strangerland

They were forced off their plane at gunpoint, 

Perhaps a trivial point, but I've only heard that they were escorted by "armed guards". I've heard no mention of "at gunpoint". Most airport guards in the Middle East are armed - at least from my experience. Nevertheless, the treatment of the women was extremely bad. From the woman in the interview at your link, perhaps worse than the examination itself was that she wasn't told what was going to happen when she was taken off the plane. It's hard to imagine how scared she must have felt.

Perhaps a trivial point, but I've only heard that they were escorted by "armed guards". I've heard no mention of "at gunpoint".

Fair enough, it may not literally have been at gunpoint. But as someone not accustomed to guns, the distinction between having them being present while being ordered off the plane, and having them point the guns at me while making the same order, is insignificant.

I’m not about sharia law, but at the same time I’m about sovereignty of a nation and respect their customs as a visitor. My formal apology would go like this: “Don’t like it? don’t visit, and thank you for flying Qatar Airlines.”

They weren't visiting, they were transiting. If they are to be a transit nation, they need to respect human rights. If they don't want to respect human rights, then people should refuse to transfer through the nation.

Words matter here. Let's use the correct ones. It was not a gynaecological exam, nor a sexual assault. It was rape. These women were raped.

Qatar is a sick country and I advise women to never use a qatari airline (or any other middle East ones) if they want to be safe.

And to anyone: please don't give these crazy countries by visiting them, there are plenty or nicer other places where you can also drink, have sex while being not married and criticize the country without being thrown in jail.

....upon leaving actually. And no, I did no say they should have expected that, but they should have known that Shariah law assigns women a status that allows such things.

Oh, they shouldn’t have expected that. But they should have known it could happened and allowed it. That’s your defense is it? I see.

Despite already being corrected on the matter by the PM of Qatar who stated clearly that this in now way is acceptable under Qatar’s laws, you persist in blaming the women for not reading shariah law.

But tell me once more about freedom and government overreach.