The state of Qatar has said it “regrets any distress or infringement” caused to 18 women forced to undergo an invasive genital examination without consent at Doha’s Hamad International Airport.
The acknowledgement comes nearly a month after the incident, which occured on 2 October, and days after the matter became known to the public.
Qatari authorities reportedly removed at least 18 women in total from up to 10 different flights in order to conduct invasive genital examinations, after a premature baby had been found abandoned in a bathroom within the terminal.
The examinations are said to have taken place in ambulances parked on the tarmac.
The incident made headlines around the world when the Australian media picked up that 13 Australian women onboard flight QR908 from Doha to Sydney had been subject to the invasive procedure.
One witness onboard that flight told the Australian media that passengers were waiting on the tarmac for several hours before all women onboard were told to disembark.
“I thought the more vulnerable persons are being taken out and I was wondering what will happen now, are they looking for someone, are they searching the plane?” Dr Wolfgang Babeck told RN Breakfast.
“Then some security people came onboard and looking [to see] whether passengers had been hiding on the plane.
“When the women came back, many of them or probably all of them were upset — one of them was in tears, a younger woman. People couldn’t believe what had happened.”
The Australian women then had the ordeal of having to complete two-week hotel quarantine after the plane landed in Sydney, but were provided with “medical and psychological support” by NSW Health.
In response to the upsetting news, Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison called the invasive treatment of the women “unacceptable” and “appalling” and said his government would “continue to take a very strident approach” in seeking answers and ensuring it would never be repeated.
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said in a statement, “The Australian government is aware of concerning reports regarding the treatment of female passengers, including Australian citizens, at Doha (Hamad) airport in Qatar.
“We have formally registered our serious concerns regarding the incident with Qatari authorities and have been assured that detailed and transparent information on the event will be provided soon.”
Hamad Airport said in a statement released to the ABC that the premature baby was safe and receiving care, but that the mother has not yet been located.
“At this time, the newborn infant remains unidentified, but is safe under the professional care of medical and social workers,” the statement said.
“Medical professionals expressed concern to officials about the health and welfare of a mother who had just given birth and requested she be located prior to departing [the airport].”
