Seven Out of 13 Australian Women To Sue Qatari Authorities Over Invasive Airport Searches

Australian Women To Sue Qatari authorities over invasive gynaecological searches at Doha airport almost a year ago. The incident received sharp global criticism on concern over the countries treatment of especially with them all set to host FIFA 2022. Seven out of 13 Australian women who were made to go through the "invasive gynaecological searches" by the Qatari Airport officials have decided on filing a lawsuit against Qatar Airways, authorities and the government.

The 13 women from 10 Qatar Airways were made to go through these searches because a newborn baby was found in the Doha Airport and the authorities were searching for the mother. Their lawyer, Damian Sturzaker, from a Sydney-based firm called Marque Lawyers said that seven out of the 13 women have planned to take legal action against the authorities. This, according to Sturzaker, is to "send a message to Qatari authorities that you can't treat women...in this manner." Adding to this, the lawyer said that the women continue to suffer through the distress of the incident that took place last year.

Sturzaker also said that the women want a "formal apology, compensation and protection for future passengers transiting through the Doha Airport. The lawsuit will be filed in Australia and it will be against the Hamad International Airport, Qatar Civil Aviation Authority, Qatar Airways and the Qatar government.

Last year, after the incident took place, the country's prime minister issued an apology and an airport police officer who oversaw the search was reportedly convicted.

At the press conference on November 12, the Prime Minister of Australia Scott Morrison said that the Australian government were "pleased" with how they advocated the issue and how promptly the Qatari authorities changed made changes to their process.

But the women, who were traumatised by the incident were not informed of any "such" improvements when it came to airport procedures nor were their attempts to "seek mediation" successful. Thus they have decided on highlighting the incident ahead of the FIFA World Cup.

The lawyer said, "They should be aware that - whilst there is a guise of a highly developed, highly modernised airport and national carrier- these events have happened and there's nothing preventing them from happening again."

One of the women in an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald said that they have not received any apology and are also angry at the Australian government for not advocating the issue. The incident took place on October 20, 2020, at the Hamad International Airport in Doha.

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