'Scariest moment of my life': Australian airline passengers forcibly examined in Qatar feel 'abandoned'
Last October, 13 Australian women were forced to undergo invasive and humiliating internal examinations as they transited through the Doha international airport in Qatar.
The women were targeted because a newborn baby had been found abandoned in the airport, and Qatari police, convinced a crime had occurred, were determined to locate its mother.
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Thirteen Australian women were forced to undergo invasive and humiliating internal examinations. Nine
The women were targeted because a newborn baby had been found abandoned in the airport. Nine
But a year later, the Australians feel abandoned.
They've received no explanations or apologies about their dehumanising ordeal.
"It was the scariest moment of my life," passenger Anna tells reporter Sarah Abo.
"It's a humiliation and abuse of power, and a breach of my human rights."
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60 Minutes reporter Sarah Abo spoke to passengers who were subjected to the ordeal. Nine
When news of the incident was first made public, Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Foreign Minister Marise Payne angrily vowed to get answers from the Qatar government about how and why the incident happened.
But the victims say they've been left in the dark.
"It was incredibly unfair," Jane tells reporter Sarah Abo.
"We're struggling because we're all wondering why."
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Passenger Anna recalled the fear she felt during the traumatic experience. Nine
In an emotional interview with 60 Minutes, Anna recalls the paralysing fear she felt during the traumatic experience when she and her then five-month-old baby boy were forced off the plane they were sitting on by armed security guards.
"I thought we're kidnapped, we're going to be held as legal pawns," she said.
"I'm going to be raped and my child's going to be taken."
"We will never see family again."
"It was the scariest moment of my life," passenger Anna tells reporter Sarah Abo. Nine
The incident sparked an angry diplomatic response from Australia. Nine
To think such barbarity could exist in the world, especially in the 2020s, would defy logic for most people, but in Qatar these kinds of atrocities appear to be officially sanctioned.
That, however, doesn't make the behaviour acceptable and the Australian women who've been so terribly affected are determined to continue their brave fight to make sure those responsible are held to account.
Sunday on #60Mins, why these Australian women have received no explanation and no apologies for the cruelty they endured.
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