Saudi teen detained in Bangkok could realise her dream of living in Australia

[canetoad]

Source: The Age

The Australian government will "carefully consider" any asylum application made by the Saudi teen detained at Bangkok airport whose case has gained media attention around the world.

Saudi officials stopped 18-year-old Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun at Bangkok airport, preventing her from travelling to Australia where she planned to claim asylum.

The Australian government said it was 'pleased' Ms Qunun's claim would be processed by the UNHCR amid a report that Australia was preparing to offer her a humanitarian visa once her application was processed.

"The Australian government is pleased that Ms Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun is having her claim for protection assessed by the UNHCR," a spokesperson for the Department of Home Affairs said.

Read more: https://www.theage.com.au/world/middle-east/saudi-teen-detained-in-bangkok-could-realise-her-dream-of-living-in-australia-20190108-p50q9b.html

[ProudMNDemocrat]

1. Australia would welcome her.....

While there myself, I saw a number of Muslim women walking about the streets in Sydney, at tourist attractions with other women and their families. I saw many people from Thailand, China, India, Vietnam, as well as from the Middle East. Nor were there the animosity of people from other parts of the world vilified as they have been here.

[SunSeeker]

4. Plus they have excellent universal healthcare - covers everything.

My sister-in-law got breast cancer and it not only covered all her treatments but a home health aid to do her laundry, etc.

Plus it is a stunningly beautiful country with friendly people and no mass shootings thanks to an excellent gun control law.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

5. I could live there, I loved Australia so much....

I am a Professional seamstress. I could easily get a work Visa if ever I decide to leave the US, put my money in Aussies banks, and live quite comfortably. My husband loved Australia as well. There are so many areas that are on the rise with building, infrastructure building, etc. While taxes are high, the economy is booming.

[SunSeeker]

7. The taxes there are spent on the people to give them a nice life.

My relarives in Australia never said their taxes were high. They had everything they wanted: a beautiful house with a big yard, great infrastructure, schools, superb healthcare, beaches, national parks. They weren't even rich and they had all that. He was just a computer tech guy for a local bank and she was a homemaker with no outside income.

[EX500rider]

2. Strange case...

.....she wasn't trying to enter Thailand in the 1st place, she had a connecting to flight to Australia.

Saudi must have some pull with Thailand to get her held, after all she is not a minor.

Although this quote was encouraging:

On Monday evening local time, Thailand's chief of immigration police, Surachate Hakparn, said the country would "take care of her as best we can".

"She is now under the sovereignty of Thailand; no-one and no embassy can force her to go anywhere.

"Thailand is a land of smiles. We will not send anyone to die."

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-46790542

[obamanut2012]

3. I didn't get how Thailand had a right to take her passport and send her back

Because Saudi govt said so. She isn't a minor, or a criminal.

[canetoad]

6. I wondered that too

Some clarity from Wikipedia:

Her family reportedly made a missing-persons report for her, and a man greeted her upon arrival at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, not disclosing that he was a Saudi embassy official, and told her that he needed her passport so that he could help her obtain a Thai visa. He left with her passport and did not return. Al-Qunun never intended to leave the airport's transit area and therefore did not require a Thai visa.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rahaf_Mohammed_al-Qunun

_________

The above doesn't really gel with these statements by SA (Aljazeera)

Saudi Arabia's embassy in Thailand denied reports that Riyadh requested the extradition of Alqanun.

Thailand's immigration police chief, Surachate Hakparn, met on Tuesday with Saudi embassy officials and said they told him they're satisfied with how the case of the young woman has been handled.

"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has not asked for her extradition. The embassy considers this issue a family matter," it said in a post on Twitter.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/01/unhcr-investigates-rahaf-alqanun-case-asylum-190108072739500.html