Saudi woman held at Bangkok airport says fears death if sent back

[gjoo888]

There are quite a few countries where apostasy, or leaving a religion is punishable by death, Saudi Arabia is one of those countries. Even if she is not put to death, I would hate to be her if she's forced to return to Saudi Arabia. The Thai government needs to do something, grant her asylum, let her continue her trip to Australia or whatever they need to do to keep her from returning to Saudi Arabia.

Edited January 7, 2019 by gjoo888

[darksidedog]

I see our good friend Big Joke is in the mix saying " Gen Surachate said he was unaware of any passport seizure and it is unclear why Ms Mohammed al-Qunun would need a Thai visa if she was in transit to Australia and had an Australian visa. "

If she was indeed in transit to Australia, as head of immigration he should know really, that she doesn't need a visa for here. The only reason to hold her would be if, as suggested, a foreign power has called for it, under the table, as no criminal charges seem to be implied. If it turns out to be true that Saudi officials were allowed inside the "closed"zone inside the airport, that would be pretty criminal to my mind. If she is sent back and never heard from again, as is quite likely, they are knowingly sending her to her death.

And this is the Government that says you can trust them in the upcoming elections. Not on human rights it would seem

[mogandave]

1 hour ago, RicUSA said:

Religion - breeding hatred, bigotry, and violence since history began

With Leftism being the most powerful religion of all time.

[ocddave]

6 minutes ago, gjoo888 said:

There are quite a few countries where apostasy, or leaving a religion is punishable by death, Saudi Arabia is one of those countries. Even if she is not put to death, I would hate to be her if she's forced to return to Saudi Arabia. The Thai government needs to do something, grant her asylum, let her continue her trip to Australia or whatever they need to do to keep her from returning to Saudi Arabia.

Those countries should be sanctioned, meaning no VISA access to any country, no trade with democratic countries, etc. Either they clean up their act, or suffer being closed off from the rest of the World, sort of like NK.

[ocddave]

2 minutes ago, darksidedog said:

I see our good friend Big Joke is in the mix saying " Gen Surachate said he was unaware of any passport seizure and it is unclear why Ms Mohammed al-Qunun would need a Thai visa if she was in transit to Australia and had an Australian visa. "

If she was indeed in transit to Australia, as head of immigration he should know really, that she doesn't need a visa for here. The only reason to hold her would be if, as suggested, a foreign power has called for it, under the table, as no criminal charges seem to be implied. If it turns out to be true that Saudi officials were allowed inside the "closed"zone inside the airport, that would be pretty criminal to my mind. If she is sent back and never heard from again, as is quite likely, they are knowingly sending her to her death.

And this is the Government that says you can trust them in the upcoming elections. Not on human rights it would seem

I believe her passport/paperwork was seized by agents of her own government while in the airport, thus nothing (no ID) to use to get back on the next flight.

[anchadian]

Phil Robertson also stated that it's hard to understand the Thai immigration's heartless lack of concern for Rahaf al-Qunan.  Commissioner 'Big Joke' says it's a family problem but if her father kills her, who takes responsibility for sending her into harms way and ignoring her asylum request?

 

[simple1]

Fairly obvious Thai authorities enabled theft of her passport by Saudi representatives which one would assume is illegal as it would in effect make the woman stateless. The Oz government has appealed for her release and permission for onward flight to Australia. As in the case of the Oz footballer with refugee status granted by Australia the Thai government is cooperating with authoritarian regimes with the repression of human rights.

 

 

[outsider]

Geez, death-by-family just for renouncing a religion. That's primitive. Meanwhile, Thailand did a fantastic job in upholding its winning status where human rights (or its lack thereof) is concerned, if what Human Rights Watch Asia said is true.

[mogandave]

All all we know is what the woman claims.

[Lisaloo1977]

She was told she needed a visa when she departed the flight. Her passport was taken from her by someone who claimed they would do that, they never returned it.

 

This is an 18 year old girl who has suffered oppression at its worst, she isn’t a seasoned traveller on another holiday, she’s had to ask for permission to do most things her whole life. She is being let down in the worst way possible, yet people sit and talk of her as if her life means nothing. 

This isn’t a pick on Thailand issue, it always amazes me when people take what the country does so personally. It’s about saving a young girls life. Empathy and compassion is not difficult in a situation like this, unless you’re a fan of barbaric treatment of women. 

 

[SABloke]

2 hours ago, bartender100 said:

And they will have the guilt of a girls death unless they do the right thing, the world is watching Thailand right now

Guilt? Thailand? ???? Sadly not, I'm afraid.

[ReMarKable]

16 minutes ago, mogandave said:

With Leftism being the most powerful religion of all time.

Why do you confuse religion with a social ideology?

 

[mogandave]

Why do you confuse religion with a social ideology?
 

Why do you assume I’m confused?

[MalandLee]

6 minutes ago, Lisaloo1977 said:

She was told she needed a visa when she departed the flight. Her passport was taken from her by someone who claimed they would do that, they never returned it.

 

This is an 18 year old girl who has suffered oppression at its worst, she isn’t a seasoned traveller on another holiday, she’s had to ask for permission to do most things her whole life. She is being let down in the worst way possible, yet people sit and talk of her as if her life means nothing. 

This isn’t a pick on Thailand issue, it always amazes me when people take what the country does so personally. It’s about saving a young girls life. Empathy and compassion is not difficult in a situation like this, unless you’re a fan of barbaric treatment of women. 

 

Powerfully written and extremely poignant... For whatever it is worth I am with you 100%

[anchadian]

Will be interesting to see if Rahaf is on the Kuwait airways flight 412 departing from Bangkok at 11.15 hrs today.

[Easy Come Easy Go]

3 hours ago, Lisaloo1977 said:

This is horrendous to watch unfold. I hope that all the exposure helps her, it’s definitely gone viral.

 

I'm laying with my daughter thankful she will never face such challenges for her own right to freedom. 

Saudi Arabia is ruled by disgusting people, who stone people to death and behead them for trivial matters. The US is also in bed with such a nation at the government level, and helps Saudi Arabia whenever it can. For example, Obama set ups deal to send over billions of ammunitions as well as nuclear technology, but didn't close the deal in time. Trump then closed the deal in his current term. 
Saudi, Israel, the US and some EU nations together are destroying countless innocent lives globally each and every single day. 

[Lisaloo1977]

2 minutes ago, anchadian said:

Will be interesting to see if Rahaf is on the Kuwait airways flight 412 departing from Bangkok at 11.15 hrs today.

This is indeed the flight they are aiming to return her on.

[Wallander4]

Once again Thailand stand on the wrong side - what a despicable pathetic country this has become. I wonder how anyone can live here for a longer time

[anchadian]

BBC reported that Saudi Embassy says woman still has her passport.........Rahaf has said 'they are liars'.

 

 

Edited January 7, 2019 by anchadian

[ocddave]

1 minute ago, anchadian said:

BBC reported that Saudi Embassy says woman still has her passport.........Rahaf has said 'they are liars'.

The same people who say they know nothing about the 9/11 bombers either, we should have shut these people down long ago.

 

[smedly]

1 hour ago, MARK74 said:

what decision?

does thailand have any decision to make legally? I am not sure.

The girl is still air side and hasn't come through thailand immigration and seemingly is being held by saudi authorities who have her travel documents.

Is there anything thailand can do about it?

I hate to say it but I would expect she'll be on a plane back to SA soon.

What ?

 

she is in Thailand - is an adult - has broken no Thai laws - has broken no international laws - is not wanted by Interpol - Thailand has no right to detain this woman, they should not have gotten involved, some uneducated wooden top decided to take this path and abuse this persons rights for no reason at all.

 

Just another example of uneducated people in jobs they are not qualified to do

 

This abuse of rights now has the attention of the world - shame on you Thailand 

[mogandave]

If Saudi officials took her passport, there should be video footage.

[TopDeadSenter]

More bad but well deserved PR for islam. When are we going to wake up and demand an end to this death for apostates, homosexuals and many other horrific aspects of islam? Trump was right, until they have a total reform there should be no immigration from these countries. On a positive note, stories such as these going viral might just get it through some liberals skulls what islam is really about. RIP to this 18 year old lass if she gets sent back.

[MalandLee]

2 minutes ago, TopDeadSenter said:

More bad but well deserved PR for islam. When are we going to wake up and demand an end to this death for apostates, homosexuals and many other horrific aspects of islam? Trump was right, until they have a total reform there should be no immigration from these countries. On a positive note, stories such as these going viral might just get it through some liberals skulls what islam is really about. RIP to this 18 year old lass if she gets sent back.

I'm sure few would disagree with you, however, I hope Australia makes an exception in the case of this Young Lady and grants her both asylum and a travel permit. Something that could be done inside an hour, if the "will" to do it existed.  

[aircooledflat4]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

. She told the BBC that she had renounced Islam

This little part was gutlessly left out of ABC’s report in OZ. 

[ocddave]

2 minutes ago, aircooledflat4 said:

This little part was gutlessly left out of ABC’s report in OZ. 

That would be a death sentence in Islam, correct?

[theguyfromanotherforum]

19 minutes ago, Easy Come Easy Go said:

Saudi Arabia is ruled by disgusting people, who stone people to death and behead them for trivial matters. The US is also in bed with such a nation 

 

And so is every expat who works there

[harada]

I don't like this young girls chances, oil and baht will overrule human rights here sadly.

[MARK74]

12 minutes ago, smedly said:

What ?

 

she is in Thailand - is an adult - has broken no Thai laws - has broken no international laws - is not wanted by Interpol - Thailand has no right to detain this woman, they should not have gotten involved, some uneducated wooden top decided to take this path and abuse this persons rights for no reason at all.

 

Just another example of uneducated people in jobs they are not qualified to do

 

This abuse of rights now has the attention of the world - shame on you Thailand 

i don't know the facts or the laws.

you say thailand has no right to detain her. I didn't know they had. Just refused her entry into thailand which is why she is airside in a hotel.

whether that means she will be allowed to board a flight to australia hasn't been mentioned yet, or i have missed that part.

If she is airside, is she even considered to be in thailand and subject to thai law?

i'll admit i know little of the laws in these circumstances in these cases so will leave further comments to others.

I hope she is allowed to go to australia but am fairly certain she will be back in SA soon.

[mogandave]

If this was a dark-skinned male Muslim I wonder how many of the people posting here would assume everything he said was true...