Qatar Airways strip search controversy: more Australian women subjected to ‘wildly disturbing’ exams

It has been revealed that more Australian women than initially reported were subjected to invasive strip searches at Doha airport.

Eighteen women on a Qatar Airways flight from Doha to Sydney underwent “tremendously disturbing” physical exams.

Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne gave the updated figure during a Senate estimates hearing on Wednesday.

Senator Payne also revealed that passengers on 10 planes in Doha that day were searched after a premature baby was found in an airport bathroom.

An official from the Department of Foreign Affairs, who was among the affected but unregistered women, was the first to raise the alarm to Australian authorities shortly after the incident occurred on 2 October.

Officials seek to clarify the number of Australian women who were physically examined.

Payne said Monday it was a “tremendously disturbing and offensive series of events.”

“We have made our views very clear to the Qatari authorities on this matter,” he said.

Labor Senator Penny Wong questioned the minister about her communication with the Qatari authorities, including her counterpart.