Saudi woman detained in Bangkok airport not facing immediate deportation, meets U.N. officials
Source: Washington Post
HONG KONG — A young Saudi woman detained in a Thailand airport after fleeing her family in fear for her life will not be forcibly deported, Thailand immigration authorities said, citing concerns for her safety.
Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun, 18, was on holiday with her family in Kuwait when she fled to Bangkok, hoping to make it onward to Australia to seek asylum. Thai authorities have detained her at an airport hotel in Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport and had initially planned to send her back to Kuwait on a flight departing at 11:15 a.m. local time.
Alqunun, however, barricaded herself in her room and demanded to meet with the United Nations’ refugee agency, missing the flight.
Surachate Hakparn, head of Thailand’s immigration bureau, said Monday afternoon that Thailand will not send her back immediately and will coordinate with the U.N. refugee agency.
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/saudi-woman-seeking-asylum-barricades-herself-in-thailand-airport-hotel-room-demands-refugee-protections/2019/01/07/114ce658-122f-11e9-a896-f104373c7ffd_story.html
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