Qatar to prosecute officials over forced exams of women at airport

  • Date: 30-Oct-2020
  • Source: BBC
  • Sector:Transport
  • Country:Qatar
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Qatar to prosecute officials over forced exams of women at airport

Publishedduration19 minutes ago

media captionQatar passenger thought plane was 'hijacked'

Qatar says several airport officials have been referred for prosecution after forced gynaecological exams were carried out on women flying to Sydney.

The group - which included women from Australia the UK and New Zealand - was checked for evidence they had recently given birth after a baby was found in a bin at the airport on 2 October.

Qatar's government said on Friday that "standard procedures were violated".

It also offered its "sincerest apology" for what the women went through.

Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne called the referrals for prosecution an "important step".

"The statement of the government of Qatar is consistent with our expectations for contrition, accountability and determination to avoid any repeat of this disturbing episode," she said.

The incident came to light earlier this