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29 Oct 2020
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New Zealand slams Qatar as Kiwi woman revealed as victim of forced airport exams

October 29, 2020

New Zealand has revealed one of its citizens was among the women subjected to invasive pelvic examinations at Doha airport, labelling the action "completely unacceptable"."We were extremely concerned to learn... that a New Zealand national was involved in the appalling incident involving female passengers on several Qatar Airways flights," the foreign affairs ministry said in a statement late Thursday.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app."This action was completely unacceptable. We are making our views known to Qatari authorities and are seeking a full report on what occurred."Women on 10 flights out of Doha were subject to the examinations as authorities in the ultra-conservative Gulf state searched for the mother of a newborn baby found abandoned in an airport bathroom.The foreign ministry statement provided no details about the New Zealand woman involved, citing privacy concerns.Qatar said Wednesday it "regrets any distress" over the incident, which occurred in early October but only came to light this week after affected Australian passengers spoke out.Australia has since said 13 of its citizens had to endure the "appalling" examinations, Britain said it is providing support for two women and AFP has learned a French woman was also affected.In its first account of events, Qatar said the baby girl was wrapped in plastic and left to die in a bathroom rubbish bin, prompting what sources said was a lockdown of the airport.Women were then led from aircraft to ambulances on the tarmac where they were subject to cervical examinations to see if they had recently given birth.Qatar has launched an investigation into the incident, which involved women on 10 flights, and sources say those involved could face criminal prosecution.Read more:Qatar ‘forcibly examined’ women after newborn found abandoned in airportWomen on 10 flights from Qatar invasively examined: AustraliaAustralia condemns Qatar's ‘grossly disturbing’ airport examinations of its citizens
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: New Zealand slams Qatar as Kiwi woman revealed as victim of forced airport exams

29 Oct 2020
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Australian academic Kylie Moore-Gilbert moved to Tehran’s notorious Evin prison

October 29, 2020

An Australian academic held in Iran for more than two years has been returned to Tehran’s notorious Evin prison, friends said Friday, prompting fresh concern about her wellbeing.Kylie Moore-Gilbert – who is serving a 10-year sentence on charges of espionage – had disappeared inside Iran’s prison system a week ago, sparking frantic efforts to learn her whereabouts.“I’m relieved that the Australian government has finally managed to locate Kylie six days after she went missing,” friend and fellow Middle East expert Dara Conduit told AFP. “But make no mistake: this is not a win for Kylie.”For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Conditions at Evin are believed to be marginally better than Moore-Gilbert’s previous jail at Qarchak – a women’s facility that has been blacklisted under UN human rights sanctions and is notorious for the ill-treatment of political prisoners.During a previous stint at Evin, Moore-Gilbert reported being held in restrictive conditions and needing psychiatric medications for “gravely damaged” mental health.Friends believe she is now being held at the same ward as before, a facility controlled by Iran’s hardline Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.Release a 'priority'Australia’s foreign ministry has said securing her release is an “absolute priority”, but was forced to admit this week that her whereabouts were unknown.“We do not accept the charges upon which Dr Moore-Gilbert was convicted, and want to see her returned to Australia as soon as possible,” the ministry said after ambassador Lyndall Sachs was able to visit her in Qarchak Prison on October 19.Throughout Moore-Gilbert’s internment, friends and family have become increasingly critical of what they say is Australia’s ineffective diplomatic approach.According to Conduit: “Not one iota of progress has been made in her case, despite the government’s assurances that Kylie’s case is under control.”She called Moore-Gilbert’s transfer back to Evin “an utter indictment of the Australian government’s failure on Kylie’s case”.“After 778 days, she is back at square one in the prison in which she was originally held.”Moore-Gilbert was reportedly arrested at Tehran airport by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps in September 2018 after attending a conference in Qoms.It is believed she was reported by a conference delegate or someone interviewed for her research, which focused on the Gulf – in particular Bahrain, a crucible for competition between Iran and Saudi Arabia.She is just one of several Westerners being held in Iran on national security grounds.Negotiations with Tehran are notoriously difficult, with governments and families forced to decide if quiet discussions are less likely to antagonize captors, often against a fraught geopolitical backdrop.Iran’s complex political and judicial system can make things more complex still.Read more:Australia investigating reports that Iran moved detained academic Kylie Moore-GilbertIran transfers 66-year-old German Iranian woman to notorious Evin prison: ReportsJailed Iranian human rights lawyer moved to new prison despite health concerns
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Australian academic Kylie Moore-Gilbert moved to Tehran’s notorious Evin prison

30 Oct 2020
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Qatar says airport officials behind invasive exams of women referred to prosecutors

October 30, 2020

Qatar said on Friday that those responsible for the invasive gynecological searches of women passengers at Doha airport had been referred for prosecution over the “violations”.Women on 10 flights out of Doha were subject to the examinations as authorities searched for the mother of a newborn baby found abandoned in an airport bathroom on October 2.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“Those responsible for these violations and illegal actions have been referred to the Public Prosecution Office,” the Government Communications Office said in a statement.“The Prime Minister and Minister of Interior expressed the Government of the State of Qatar’s sincerest apology for what some female travelers went through as a result of the measures.New Zealand said late Thursday that one of its citizens was among the women subjected to the invasive examinations, labeling the action “completely unacceptable”.The incident occurred in early October but only came to light this week after affected Australian passengers spoke out.Australia has since said 13 of its citizens had to endure the “appalling” examinations, Britain said it is providing support for two women, and AFP has learned a French woman was also affected.Read more:Qatar ‘forcibly examined’ women after newborn found abandoned in airportNew Zealand slams Qatar as Kiwi woman revealed as victim of forced airport examsAustralia condemns Qatar's ‘grossly disturbing’ airport examinations of its citizens
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Qatar says airport officials behind invasive exams of women referred to prosecutors