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The Australian government says it is “deeply concerned” by the “offensive and extremely inappropriate treatment” of female passengers on a Qatar Airways flight to Sydney, who were ordered to disembark from the plane in Doha and were searched without clothing and a medical exam. .
Flight QR908 to Sydney was due to depart Doha Hamad International Airport at 8.30am. M. from Friday October 2, but was delayed four hours, apparently after a newborn was found at the airport.
On Monday morning, a spokeswoman for Foreign Minister Marise Payne’s office said the Australian government was “deeply concerned about the unacceptable treatment of some female passengers on a recent Qatar Airways flight at Doha airport” .
“The advice that has been given indicates that the treatment of the women in question was offensive, extremely inappropriate and beyond the circumstances in which women could give their free and informed consent,” the spokeswoman said.
“The government has formally registered our serious concerns about this incident with the Qatari authorities. The Department of Foreign Relations and Trade deals with this matter through diplomatic channels. “
In a statement delivered to ABC, the airport confirmed that the premature baby was alive.
“At this time, the newborn remains unidentified, but is safe under the professional care of medical and social workers,” the statement said.
“Medical professionals expressed concern to officials for the health and well-being of a mother who had just given birth and requested that they locate her before leaving.”
It is understood that the woman who gave birth has not been located and the airport continues to request that people with information come forward.
Among the 34 passengers on board was Dr. Wolfgang Babeck, who was returning to Australia after spending a month in Germany with his sick father.
Babeck told Guardian Australia that after about three hours of waiting on board the plane, the airline requested that all women on board disembark. They came back some time later and “most were very upset,” he said.
“At least one of them was crying, they were discussing what had happened and saying it was unacceptable and disgusting.”
The plane was then allowed to take off. Babeck said he later spoke with some of the passengers, who said they had been taken off the plane and taken to a non-public area of the airport and subjected to a medical examination.
“They were taken by security personnel to the basement, not knowing what was going on,” he said. “And then they were introduced to a doctor and basically they were searched without clothes and they had to take everything, all their clothes, even their underwear.
“And then the doctor would try to feel the uterus and the stomach area or the lower abdomen to see if it is possible that they have recently given birth.
“Someone had been told they had found a baby in the bathroom and were trying to find out who the mother was.”
Channel Seven, which first reported the story on Sunday, said the inspections involved 13 Australian women and were carried out in an ambulance on the runway.
Qatar Airways told Guardian Australia that it had not been contacted by any of the passengers on the flight and said it could not comment.
“We appreciate the concerns and anguish expressed to you by the Australian passengers you have spoken with, and will be investigating these matters with the relevant authorities and officials,” a spokesperson said. – Guardian
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