An 18 year old Saudi Arabian teen sought help from the world to prevent her deportation to Kuwait. Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun escaped the Kingdom in hope to reach Australia and seek asylum, now she fears for her life.
Rahaf was stopped by authorities in Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport, her passport was seized by Saudi Arabian diplomatic staff.
The teen claims that she has a travel visa for Australia but wasn’t allowed to board her plane. She was locked up in a hotel room, and was questioned by authorities.
Ms. Qunun posted a video on social media in bid to get her words to the world. She was suppose to be taken to Kuwait but reports suggest she wasn’t sent back.
Ms. Qunun told Thai Human Rights activist that she was tortured by her brother, locked in her room for six months, after she renounced Islam. The Saudi Kingdom constantly draws criticism for its laws on women, and how male relatives made decisions for women.
The Saudi embassy in Thailand denied seizing Rahaf’s passport. The Saudi diplomats claimed that they acted upon request from Ms. Qunun’s parents.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) extended support to the Saudi teen. According to international guidelines asylum-seekers can’t be deported to their countries if their life is in threat.
UNHCR has tried to make contact with the girl via Thai authorities.
Ms. Qunun’s father is on his way to Thailand to convince his daughter to return back to the Kingdom.