This archive report was first published on 17 November 2021.
On November 17, 2021, a French woman who was subjected to an invasive gynaecological search at Doha airport in 2020 spoke out about her traumatic experience, saying she feels 'disrespected and disregarded' by Qatari authorities.
The woman, who was among a group of female passengers pulled off a plane at Doha airport in October 2020, was forced to undergo an invasive examination as authorities tried to identify the mother of a newborn abandoned in an airport bathroom.
Qatari officials have apologized for the incident and said that training was rolled out to airport staff to ensure it would not be repeated. However, the woman said she had not been contacted by the airline, the airport, or the Qatari authorities in the wake of the incident.
Seven women are now launching legal action against Qatar Airways and Qatari authorities, seeking redress for an ordeal that sparked condemnation and global attention ahead of the country hosting the 2022 World Cup.
The woman said she remains 'absolutely terrified' at the thought of travelling again and wants a personal, written apology, compensation, and evidence that Doha airport has overhauled its processes.
