Saudi Arabian teenage Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun reached Canada’s Toronto international airport on Saturday. She was welcomed by the Canadian Foreign affairs minister Chrystia Freeland.
Ms. Rahaf Qunun plans to pursue education, get a job and live a normal life in Canada. Speaking to the CBC she said —
“I felt that I could not achieve my dreams that I wanted as long as I was still living in Saudi Arabia.”
“I felt free and it was like I was born again (in Canada).”
“It was something amazing and I felt overjoyed. There was a lot of love and hospitality, especially when the minister welcomed me and told me I was in a safe country and had all my rights.”
The United Nations guaranteed her refugee status after she barricaded herself in a Bangkok airport hotel room to resist being sent home to her family. Qunun refused to meet her father and brother, who arrived in Bangkok to try to take her back to Saudi Arabia.
Both Canada and Australia agreed to take Qunun, however she chose Canada.
The Saudi Arabian Crown Prince wants to be the messiah of change, but this case once again brought in global attention to the Kingdoms strict social rules for women.