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DOHA: Female passengers flying from Qatar were subjected to invasive searches after a premature baby was found abandoned in an airport bathroom, in an incident described as “offensive” and “extremely inappropriate” by the Australian government.
Airport officials have not denied the incident, saying the passengers were asked to “assist” with inquiries to locate the baby’s mother, who they say is still alive.
The Qatari authorities have launched an appeal to locate the baby’s family.
Security agents escorted an undisclosed number of women, including Australians, from planes on the runway at Doha International Airport to ambulances, where they were examined for signs that they had recently given birth.
“(Officials) were forcing women to undergo invasive body searches, basically forced pap smears,” a source in Doha informed of the incident told AFP, referring to an internal examination of the cervix.
Doha’s Hamad International Airport said in a statement that “medical professionals expressed concern to officials about the health and well-being of a mother who had just given birth and requested that they locate her before departure.”
“People who had access to the specific area of the airport where the newborn was found were asked to assist in the consultation,” the statement said.
It did not say what the women were asked of or how many were affected.
‘UNACCEPTABLE TREATMENT’
An Australian government spokeswoman said the country was “deeply concerned about the unacceptable treatment” of female passengers.
“The advice that has been provided 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,” it said in a statement.
The incident, first reported by Australian broadcaster Seven Network, occurred on October 2 and came to light after several affected Australian passengers spoke.
As a result, one of the flights involved, Qatar Airways’ October 2 flight QR908 to Sydney, was delayed for four hours when leaving Doha, according to air traffic specialist website Flightradar24.
It is understood that women from various other countries and flights have been affected, but their numbers and nationalities are not yet known.
The Doha airport launched an appeal on Sunday night for the boy’s mother to come forward, suggesting that checks carried out at the time were inconclusive.
“The newborn remains unidentified, but is safe under the professional care of medical and social workers,” it said in its statement, requesting that anyone with information come forward.
The Qatari foreign minister is expected to write to his Australian counterpart about the incident this week.
The Australian spokeswoman said the government has “formally registered our serious concerns regarding the incident with the Qatari authorities.”
“The Department of Foreign Relations and Trade is involved in this matter through diplomatic channels,” he said.
Qatar applies a strict form of Islamic law, with severe penalties applied to women who become pregnant or have children out of wedlock.
The new coronavirus pandemic has grounded the long-haul operations of many airlines, including those of the Australian flag carrier Qantas, while Qatar Airways has continued to fly many of its routes despite falling demand.
