Qatar Apologizes For Invasive, Forced Exams on Women in Doha Airport

Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar (Wikipedia)

Airport officials asked a group of 18 women to disembark their flights to undergo an invasive gynecological exam at the Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar on October 2 in an attempt to identify one of the women as the mother of a newborn baby abandoned in a plastic bag in an airport restroom. At least 13 of these women had Australian citizenship, sparking outrage in their country. 

According to the women, officials forced them onto ambulances and told them to remove their underwear for the examinations. They stated that they never received a request for consent, nor were they informed of the purpose for the examinations.

An initial statement from Qatar’s Government Communications Office stated that “this egregious and life-threatening violation of the law triggered an immediate search for the parents, including on flights in the vicinity of where the newborn was found.” They additionally referred responsible parties to the Public Prosecution Office.

In a joint statement between the Australian Foreign Minister and Qatari Minister of Foreign Affairs, Qatar announced their commitment to take meaningful action against this violation and reaffirmed its commitment to the safety and security of all passengers flying through Hamad International. The Australian Foreign Minister Payne acknowledged Qatar’s commitment and announced that both would “monitor the case closely.”