Qatar: investigation into forced medical examinations of women at the airport

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The women are said to have been forcibly examined at the airport in Doha

Photo: KARIM JAAFAR / AFP

The government of Qatar has announced an investigation after numerous women were reportedly given gynecological examinations at Doha airport without their consent.

Qatar regrets "any suffering and any impairment of personal freedoms of travelers through this action," it said from there.

Meanwhile, the Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne announced that women from a total of ten aircraft had been subjected to compulsory medical examinations.

The occasion was the discovery of a baby wrapped in plastic in an airport toilet.

Several air travelers, including Australian women, were removed from a Qatar Airways plane earlier this month and examined for signs of recent confinement.

From informed circles in Doha it was said that the women had "been subjected to invasive body searches".

They were forcibly given a swab from the cervix.

The Australian government had condemned the "gross" and "abusive" practice.

The Prime Minister ordered an investigation

In view of the imminent damage to its image, Qatar said on Wednesday that the aim of the "quick search" was to prevent those responsible for "the terrible crime" from escaping.

Prime Minister Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulasis Al-Thani ordered an investigation, the results of which would be communicated to international partners.

The press release does not speak of compulsory gynecological examinations, only a "search for the parents" of the baby.

According to this, the infant - a girl - was hidden in a plastic bag in a trash can.

The baby will receive medical care in Doha.

The incident could damage Qatar's reputation in the run-up to the 2022 World Cup, which is set to take place in the Gulf emirate.

Then tens of thousands of visitors from abroad are expected in the country.

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