Australia on Monday condemned Qatar authorities’ treatment of women passengers on a flight to Sydney who were subjected to internal examinations after a newborn baby was found abandoned at a Doha airport. The women, including 13 Australians, were examined at Hamad International Airport on October 2 after Qatar Airways Flight 908 to Sydney was delayed. Australia’s foreign affairs department described the treatment of the women as inappropriate and beyond circumstances in which they could give free and informed consent. “This is a grossly, grossly disturbing, offensive, concerning set of events,” Foreign Minister Marise Payne said. “It’s not something that I’ve ever heard of occurring in my life, in any context. We have made our views very clear to the Qatari authorities on this matter.” Australia would await a report from the Qatari government before “we will determine the next steps”, Ms Payne said. She said the incident had been reported to Australian Federal Police, but did not explain which action police might take.
