Qatar charges airport police officers over invasive searches of women

Doha, Qatar - July 15, 2019: Airbus A350-941 of Qatar Airways at Hamad International Airport. The airport opened on 30 April 2014 and now accomodates over 35 million passengers per year

Qatari authorities have filed criminal charges against police officers working at Hamad airport following allegations women were invasively searched there last month.

Qatar’s public prosecutor released a statement on Monday saying the officers had broken the law when they asked female medical staff to examine the women, according to Reuters.

The national carrier of Qatar received widespread criticism in October after women on 10 different aircraft, including 18 Australian women, were subject to invasive medical examinations when a newborn baby was found abandoned in a terminal at Hamad International Airport.

The public prosecutor did not mention which crimes the officers were guilty of or how many police officers had been charged, but said they were charged unilaterally and face a maximum penalty of three years.

The statement revealed the mother of the abandoned baby has been charged with attempted murder and that it had launched legal proceedings for her arrest.

The mother, who was described as of “Asian nationality”, has since left the country, but faces a maximum of 15 years if she is convicted.

The statement also said authorities had identified the baby’s father using a DNA test, and that the mother had sent him a message informing him she had just given birth, and she was abandoning the child and leaving the country.

Qatar’s Prime Minister has since apologised for the treatment of the women and promised those responsible would be held to account.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne welcomed the apology and said the government understands that matters will be referred in the Qatari legal system to the public prosecution office.

“We hope that that will be a transparent and appropriate and proportionate process in relation to this matter,” she said.


Featured image source: iStock/Leonid Andronov

Latest News

  • Aviation

Low-cost Indian carrier SpiceJet continues to burn cash

It’s not just low-cost Australian carriers that are facing hardship. SpiceJet, India’s version of Bonza, recently announced a 72 per cent reduction in its net loss versus last year. But, despite this improvement, the airline has posted losses for six straight years. But it has secured board approval to raise up to INR 30 billion […]

  • Attractions

SAKA Museum recognised in TIME magazine’s World’s Greatest Places 2024

AYANA Resort Bali’s newly-opened cultural and events centre, SAKA Museum has been recognised in TIME magazine’s World’s Greatest Places list for 2024. Part of AYANA Bali’s resort destination, the museum integrates Bali’s rich history with state-of-the-art facilities, making it the centrepiece for the island’s spiritual and cultural heritage. TIME magazine’s inclusion of SAKA Museum in […]

  • Cruise

Silversea taps Barbara Biffi as senior vice president for global sales

Ultra-luxury and expedition cruise travel brand, Silverseas, has announced Barbara Biffi as its new senior vice president of global sales. Biffi joined the company in 2007, holding numerous positions and gaining a deep understanding of the brand, the preferences of its guests and its strategic goals, the company said. An Italian national with a wealth […]

  • Technology
  • Travel Agents

Amadeus welcomes FCM Travel as new reseller partner of Cytric Easy

Cytric Easy, the travel management tool embedded in Microsoft Teams, is to be integrated into FCM Travel portfolio. Amadeus and FCM Travel have extended their Cytric distribution agreement to include Cytric Easy. With this new agreement, global travel management company FCM Travel, becomes a reseller of the innovative travel management collaboration solution embedded into Microsoft […]