Wong contacts Qatar government over 2020 invasive searches
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has communicated with the Qatari authorities concerning the incident involving intrusive searches at Hamad International Airport in Doha in 2020.
Minister Wong's office verified that she had engaged in a conversation regarding the incident, where 13 Australian females were compelled to take off their undergarments for intrusive genital examinations, during a telephonic exchange with Qatar's PM and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani on Monday.
The Minister made the first move to start the conversation in order to talk about various matters concerning both countries, such as the incident at Al Hamad airport. They also discussed important matters that involve multiple parties before the upcoming UN General Assembly which will take place later this month, according to the Minister's office.
The event, which garnered global criticism, included 13 females who were on board Qatar Airways flight QR908 from Doha to Sydney. They were requested to disembark the plane and were then guided to ambulances for a thorough examination. This intrusive check was conducted because the crew discovered an abandoned premature infant in one of the bathrooms.
A group of five women has filed a lawsuit against the airline and the Qatari government - who happens to own Qatar Airways - in the Federal Court. They claim to have experienced severe emotional distress as a result and have not received any form of personal apology or compensation. Additionally, they assert that the Australian government has not made significant efforts to support their case.
The women have submitted a legal document called the Statement of Claim to the NSW Registry of the Federal Court. This document, filed in October 2022, provides a comprehensive account of the distressing mistreatment that the women assert they have endured.
Out of the five individuals involved, four of them personally experienced the intrusive screenings, whereas the remaining person, who was 73 years old and legally blind, was forced to get off the plane by armed personnel.
The statement stated that every individual who applied has experienced or is currently experiencing feelings of anxiety, depression, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD), and/or other mental health impacts.
Marque Lawyers, a law firm in charge of the case, expressed in a statement to Australian Aviation in the previous year that this group consisting of educators, medical professionals, and creative individuals had no choice but to confront this challenging situation against the State of Qatar after attempting to peacefully negotiate for two years. This legal conflict can be likened to the famous story of David and Goliath.
"Marque takes great satisfaction in being the ambassador of the team."
The assertion implies that Qatar Airways is responsible according to the Montreal Convention.
In addition to the Australian passengers, five more female travelers from different nations, such as the United Kingdom and France, were also instructed to disembark the airplane heading towards Sydney.
Subsequent investigation revealed that females aboard approximately 10 additional flights also experienced the distressing incident.
Initial accounts of the event indicate that the women who were affected were "emotionally overwhelmed" and "in disbelief" as they were taken off their flights that had already been delayed for a considerable time. Additionally, they were subjected to personal examinations without any clarification provided.