Qatar condemns 'invasive' exams of Australian women at Doha Airport as 'illegal action'

Qatar has condemned the shocking incident involving intimate medical examinations of women passengers at Doha airport, stating that it did not follow standard procedures. The October 2 incident involving at least 13 Australian women on a state-owned Qatar Airways flight drew a strong reaction from Australia. 

As per reports, the women passengers were forced to disembark and undergo invasive physical examinations in ambulances. The Qatari government has, however, apologised and even announced an investigation into the matter.

The search was prompted by the discovery of an abandoned newborn in a bathroom at Doha airport. Qatar’s Government Communications Office said in a statement that a newborn infant was found in a trash can, concealed in a plastic bag and buried under garbage in a terminal toilet before the said flight from Doha to Sydney was scheduled to take off on October 2. The government officials had also said that the girl child was rescued from "what appeared to be a shocking and appalling attempt to kill her." 

READ: Qatar Announces Probe Into 'invasive' Exams Of Female Passengers At Doha Airport

In a statement on Friday, the Qatar government said that a preliminary investigation into the "attempted murder" of the newborn baby found in a very serious condition and the subsequent actions of airport authorities to examine female passengers revealed standard procedures were violated. The statement added that those responsible for the violations and illegal actions have been referred to the Public Prosecution Office. 

READ: Qatar Apologizes, Investigates Forced Airport Examinations

Australia welcomes Qatar’s apology 

Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al-Thani also expressed his sincerest apology for what some female travellers went through following the newborn's discovery. While taking to Twitter, the Qatari PM said that women’s treatment was "unacceptable". 

Australia’s foreign minister Marise Payne welcomed the apology and Qatar’s acknowledgment of the offensive mistreatment of female passengers. In a statement, Payne added that the statement of the Qatari government was "consistent" with the Australian expectations for contrition, accountability and determination to avoid any repetition of such disturbing episode. 

READ: Australia Seeks Explanation From Qatar Over 'grossly Disturbing' Strip-search Of Women

READ: Australia Protests Qatar Airport's Exams Of Women Passengers