New Zealand criticized Qatar after a woman revealed that she was a victim of involuntary airport exams
New Zealand has declared that one of its citizens was presented among the women exposed to invasive pelvic examinations at Doha airport, describing the act as completely unacceptable.
The foreign affairs ministry reported in a statement late Thursday: We were extremely concerned to learn… that a New Zealand national was involved in the appalling incident involving female passengers on several Qatar Airways flights. This action was completely unacceptable. We are making our views known to Qatari authorities and are seeking a full report on what occurred.
It should be noted that women on 10 flights in Doha were exposed to the examinations when authorities in the ultra-conservative Gulf state looked for the mother of a newborn baby that was found abandoned in an airport bathroom. Whereas, the foreign ministry statement didn’t provide more details about the New Zealand woman involved, indicating privacy concerns.
On its part, Qatar declared on Wednesday that it regrets any distress about the incident that happened in early October however it only appeared this week after concerned Australian passengers spoke about the incident.
While Australia said that 13 of its citizens had obliged for appalling examinations, Britain declared that it is providing support for two women and AFP has known that a French woman was also affected.
Moreover, Qatar related in its first account of events, that the baby girl was covered in plastic and left to die in a bathroom waste container, which conducting to what sources said that it was a lockdown of the airport.
Thereafter, Women were led from aircraft to ambulances on the tarmac where they were exposed to cervical examinations to confirm if they had recently given birth. Thereby, Qatar has launched an investigation about the incident, which involved women on 10 flights, and sources declars that those involved could face criminal prosecution.
