‘Grossly inappropriate’: Outrage as Australian women travellers stripped in Qatar

AFP investigates ‘grossly invasive’ searches of 13 Australian women as it is revealed baby abandoned at Doha airport is alive.

The AFP is investigating after a Qatar Airlines incident in which women were stripsearched. Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne, top right, has demanded answers about the incident which occurred at Hamad International Airport in Doha, bottom right.

The Australian government has decried the alleged invasive physical searches of women in Qatar earlier this month as “offensive and grossly inappropriate” as it is revealed a premature baby found abandoned in an airport bathroom is still alive.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne has expressed her concern at the intrusive physical examinations of 13 Australian women.

She will tell Qatar’s ambassador in Canberra that his government must “urgently” investigate the international incident.

In a phone call on Monday afternoon, she will ask that the report being worked on by Qatari authorities be handed to the Australian government before the end of the week.

Government sources said Senator Payne would speak with ambassador Saad bin Abdulla Al-Mahmoud via phone, as foreign representatives were not allowed at Parliament House during sitting weeks because of COVID-19 rules.

“(Senator Payne) will reiterate the serious concerns that we originally conveyed to him on October 6,” the sources said.

‘Grossly disturbing’

“This is a grossly, grossly disturbing, offensive, concerning set of events. It is not something that I have ever heard of occurring in my life, in any context, we have made our views very clear to Qatari authorities on this matter,’’ Senator Payne said earlier on Monday.

The Foreign Minister said the allegations had been reported to Australian Federal Police and she is awaiting a report from Qatari authorities before she takes any further actions.

The 13 Australian women were allegedly subjected to invasive physical searches without their consent after airport terminal staff discovered a premature baby abandoned in a bathroom at Hamad International Airport in Doha.

Since April, Qatar Airways has been the largest monthly carrier of travellers in and out of Australia, with a 24.5 per cent share of the market.

Senator Payne said the women were receiving mental and physical health support.

“We have been liaising with both Qatari authorities here in Australia and in Doha. We are awaiting a report from the Qatari authorities and I understand that inquiries are still taking place with those people affected by this occurrence,” she said in Canberra.

AFP investigation

“And we also understand that the matter has been reported to the AFP and that matter, anything further on that as a matter for the Federal Police.

Qatari authorities allegedly forced them to remove their underwear for a genital examination in an ambulance on the tarmac.

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Hamad International Airport, Doha. Picture: AFP

It’s alleged the 13 Australian women had their genitalia invasively examined, without their consent, and none was told why they were being searched.

A statement from the airport on Monday clarified the premature baby, that was found in a terminal bathroom on October 2, was “immediately provided with medical attention and care”.

“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,” the statement read.

“Individuals who had access to the specific area of the airport where the newborn infant was found were asked to assist in the query.”

The baby remains unidentified and is under the care of social workers, according to the statement.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has “formally registered serious concerns” with Qatari authorities over the incident.

“The Australian Government is deeply concerned at the unacceptable treatment of some female passengers on a recent Qatar Airways flight at Doha Airport,” a DFAT spokesperson told The Australian.

“Reports indicate that the treatment of the women concerned was offensive, grossly inappropriate, and beyond circumstances in which the women could give free and informed consent.”

The 13 women, who flew from Doha to Sydney on Qatar Airways Flight QR908, had been in hotel quarantine but have since been sent home.

Joyce joins condemnation

Earlier, former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce said the alleged invasive strip searching of by airport staff in Qatar is outrageous and unacceptable.

An international investigation has been launched into the ­incident.

The story, broken by the Seven Network on Sunday, reported that “women at the airport, including 13 Australians, were removed from flights, detained and forced to undergo an inspection in an ambulance on the tarmac.”

Mr Joyce said he was shocked by the incident.

“What explanation can you give? It is outrageous to think that so many people, so many ladies went through that sort of humiliation,” he told Sunrise.

“By what authority did they think they had the capacity to do that? What on earth were they trying to achieve? It is completely and utterly unacceptable and no doubt at an international level, I hope there is an investigation that says so.”

Former deputy PM Barnaby Joyce. Picture: AAP

Labor MP Joel Fitzgibbon. Picture: Milan Scepanovic

Labor’s Resources spokesman Joel Fitzgibbon said he hoped the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade had expressed their concerns over the disturbing event.

“We do have to be careful and wait for confirmation of the accuracy of the report, but if true, this effectively amounts to state sanctioned sexual assault … and the Australian government should be most robust in its response.”

The Department of Foreign Affairs has formally complained to Qatari authorities and is expecting to receive from them “detailed and transparent” information about the incident soon.

“The Australian government is aware of concerning reports regarding the treatment of female passengers, including Australian citizens, at Doha (Hamad) airport in Qatar,” DFAT said in a statement.

Amnesty International Australia director Samantha Klintworth told Seven the incident was a “distressing and disturbing and a gross violation of these women’s human rights”.

The matter is being handled by Foreign Minister Marise Payne.