Searches of Australian women in Doha behind move to block Qatar Airways

QATAR AIRBUS A380-861 A7-API (MSN 235)

Federal Transport Minister Catherine King says the detention and forced sexual examinations of Australian women at Doha airport during the pandemic was not behind the decision to deny Qatar Airways’ request to double its Australian flights. The tourism industry said Qatar doubling its capacity would lower the price of international airfares, which that have remained high since Australia reopened its borders after the COVID-19 pandemic. But the government refused Qatar Airways’ bid to add 21 extra flights to its services from Doha into Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane last year.

A group of Australian women are suing the airline over being subjected to invasive searches at Doha Airport objected to the airline’s bid. Five of the women wrote to the minister asking her to consider their plight as she decided Qatar’s ongoing request.

“We ask that you give careful consideration to the fact that Qatar Airways refused to meet with us and resolve our complaints amicably, despite the fact that some of us were sexually violated during the incident while passengers onboard their airline,” they said.

“We implore you to instead consider an airline that will uphold human rights, adhere to international travel and human rights conventions, and do all things reasonably necessary to safeguard its passengers.”

A third Qatari government body has been hit with claims of sexual assault, battery, and false imprisonment in a lawsuit by five Australian women allegedly strip-searched at Doha's Hamad Airport. The women were among hundreds forcibly removed from aircraft at Doha on the 2nd of October 2020, as officials searched for the mother of a newborn baby in a bathroom at the terminal.

Taken out of the plane by armed guards, many say they were forced to have non-consensual gynaecological or intimate physical examinations. The women, who cannot be legally named, first sued the government-owned Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA) and Qatar Airways in the Federal Court.

On Tuesday, they were allowed to also name Qatar Company for Airports Operation and Management (MATAR) in the lawsuit. According to court documents seen by AAP, MATAR is a corporate subsidiary of Qatar Airways and has been contracted out by the QCAA to manage the Doha airport.

The nurse and armed personnel who conducted the strip searches were employees of MATAR, the lawsuit claims. Qatar Airways is now seeking to either completely toss the allegations against it in a summary dismissal application or have the court delete certain paragraphs from the pleadings.


In a brief case management hearing on Tuesday, Justice John Halley vacated a 14 June hearing for this dismissal bid to give MATAR time to consider whether it also wanted to file a similar application.