Qatar to investigate 'invasive' exams of women at Doha airport
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The women were checked for whether they had given birth after a baby was found in a bin at Hamad Airport on 2 October.
At least 18 Australians were examined along with women from other countries, the Australian government said.
Qatar's government apologised and said the baby girl was safe in medical care in Doha.
It said the infant had been found in a plastic bag, buried under rubbish, prompting an "immediate search for the parents, including on flights in the vicinity of where the newborn was found".
"While the aim of the urgently-decided search was to prevent the perpetrators of the horrible crime from escaping, the State of Qatar regrets any distress or infringement on the personal freedoms of any traveller caused by this action," a statement read.
The government had directed a "comprehensive, transparent investigation" into the incident, and said it would share the results with other countries.
Australia said it was receiving assistance from Qatar and co-ordinating efforts with "two or three" other nations whose citizens were affected, but declined to say which ones.
Australian alarm
The invasive searches came to light this week after passengers contacted authorities in Australia.
Foreign Minister Marise Payne revealed on Wednesday a total of 18 Australian women had been examined, five more than reported earlier this week.
Australian media have previously reported that all adult women who had boarded one plane from Doha to Sydney were ordered to disembark.
They were taken to an ambulance on the tarmac and told to remove their underwear before being examined.
Many were distressed afterwards and had received health support from the Australian government, witnesses said.
On Monday, Australia's foreign ministry said reports had indicated the incident was "beyond circumstances in which the women could give free and informed consent".
But it declined to label it sexual assault while awaiting further details from Qatari officials. Opposition politicians in Australia have called it sexual assault.
Australia has also referred the matter to its federal police.
Australia's foreign department secretary Frances Adamson told a Senate hearing on Wednesday that an Australian diplomatic official had been on the flight heading to Sydney.
She was not subjected to an exam, but reported the incident to the ministry immediately.
"I was incredulous that this could have happened," Ms Adamson told the hearing.
"This is not - by any standard - normal behaviour and the Qataris recognise that, are appalled by it, do not want it to happen again."
In its statement, Qatar said it was committed to ensuring the safety, security and comfort of travellers transiting through the country.
Doha's Hamad International Airport has remained open as a key transit hub for international travel amid the pandemic.
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October 28, 2020 at 09:36AM
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Qatar to investigate 'invasive' exams of women at Doha airport - BBC News
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