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The Sydney Swans are seeking answers from their corporate partner, Qatar Airways, after the female passengers underwent intimate medical examinations at Doha airport.
The AFL club, which has been in a sponsorship deal with the airline since 2016, said it was “deeply concerned” by reports last week that women, including several Australians, were strip searched in early October after that a newborn baby was found in the terminal.
The incidents, which involved women on 10 flights, including 18 on planes bound for Sydney, caused international outrage and prompted the Qatari government to refer those responsible to the prosecution.
“We were deeply concerned by the media reports last week about the treatment of female passengers at Hamad International Airport in Doha,” a Swans spokesman told Guardian Australia. “The club has sought more information on the situation and that dialogue continues between our two organizations.”
The Swans and the state airline, which also includes FIFA among its global partners, renewed the partnership when an original three-year agreement expired last year.
At the time, the Swans came under pressure from the club’s strong LGBTQ + community not to sign a new deal. Homosexuality is illegal in Qatar and ABC commentator Corbin Middlemas, who came out as gay in 2018, called the deal “hypocritical.”
The Swans have earned a reputation for being one of the AFL’s most progressive clubs on social justice issues, and have played the league’s annual pride game, a celebration of LGBTQ + inclusion, since 2015.
Swans ambassador, and former New South Wales Labor MLC, Meredith Burgmann said the club also had a proven track record in fighting racism and had been successful in implementing an unofficial cultural policy of “no jerks. “.
“I’m sure the Swans leaders find it disturbing, but they will wait to see what happens with the investigation,” Burgmann said. “The Swans have always been good at these issues.”
As part of the ongoing agreement with Sydney, Qatar Airways receives prominent branding at Swans’ home games and their training ground, while players are engaged in marketing and promotional activities.
The official group of Swans supporters said it was taking the airport incidents “very seriously” and also confirmed that it was seeking answers from the airline.
Golf Australia, which also lists the airline as a major corporate partner, has been contacted by Guardian Australia for comment.
The political consequences of the mandatory medical examinations in Doha have already been felt, and Australian politicians from the main parties withdrew from a formal dinner at the residence of the Qatari ambassador in protest.
Scott Morrison, the Australian Prime Minister, said the incidents were “appalling”, while Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani said the treatment of women had been “unacceptable”.
On announcing the partnership four years ago, Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker said: “We strongly believe in connecting with our global travelers through their passion for sport, and we have been searching for the right partner for Qatar. Airways in The Australian Sports Field “.
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