Australia protests alleged invasive tests on female passengers in Qatar

Sydney, Australia, Oct 26 (efe-epa).- Australia confirmed Monday it protested the Qatar’s government over the treatment of women allegedly subjected invasive examinations before boarding a plane to Sydney after finding a newborn in a bathroom at Doha airport.

Australian television channel 7 reported Sunday that the women, including 13 Australians, were detained and taken to an ambulance parked on the ramp on Oct. 2. Passenger Wolfgang Babeck, who was aboard flight QR 908 that day, told local network ABC on Monday the women were visibly upset when they returned to their seats.

“Many, probably all of them, were upset, one of them, a young woman, was crying,” Babeck said.

The women were allegedly forced to remove their underwear to undergo gynecological examinations with no consent and without being told why.

Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said her country’s government has “dealt directly with Qatari authorities” about the “disturbing, offensive and worrying” incident.

Payne also said she is awaiting the investigations’ results carried out by Qatari and Australian authorities on the events, without giving details on the number of passengers affected or the age range, nor on the type of medical examinations to which they were subjected.

Qatari airport officials said the baby is safe and under the care of doctors and social workers, while the mother has not been identified and is missing, according to the ABC. It is unclear how many flights authorities targeted for testing. EFE-EPA

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