Australian ladies to sue Qatar over invasive gynaecological searches at airport

A bunch of girls subjected to invasive gynaecological searches at Doha airport will sue Qatari authorities, looking for redress for an ordeal that sparked international condemnation, their lawyer informed AFP Monday.

Women on 10 Qatar Airways flights from Doha, together with 13 Australians, had been subjected to the examinations late final yr as authorities looked for the mom of a new child discovered deserted in an airport rest room.The incident brought on outrage, and fuelled considerations about Qatar’s remedy of girls because the Gulf state prepares to obtain hundreds of international guests for the 2022 soccer World Cup.Damian Sturzaker, from Sydney-based agency Marque Lawyers, stated seven affected passengers now plan authorized motion to “send a message to Qatari authorities that you can’t treat women… in this manner”.’WOMEN SUFFERED ENORMOUS DISTRESS'”The group of women have suffered enormous distress on the evening concerned, now just over a year ago, and they continue to suffer distress and ill effects and trauma as a result of what occurred,” he informed AFP.Sturzaker stated the ladies had been looking for a proper apology, compensation, and safety for future passengers transiting by the airport.Qatar is an ultra-conservative Muslim monarchy, the place intercourse and childbirth outdoors of marriage are punishable by jail.Ahead of the World Cup, the nation has struggled to reassure critics that its guarantees on ladies’s rights, labour relations and democracy are credible.Facing probably devastating industrial and reputational harm after the incident, Qatar vowed to ensure the long run “safety and security” of passengers.The nation’s prime minister additionally issued an apology, whereas an airport police officer who oversaw the searches was reportedly convicted.But Sturzaker stated the ladies had not been made conscious of any enhancements to airport procedures and their makes an attempt to hunt mediation had been unsuccessful.They now needed to focus on their case forward of the FIFA event, to make sure different travellers had been well-informed earlier than visiting Qatar, he added.”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,” he stated.Qatar’s embassy in Canberra and Qatar Airways didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.Sturzaker stated the lawsuit can be filed in Australia towards the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority, Hamad International Airport, Qatar Airways and the nation’s authorities inside weeks.