The Saudi 18-year-old girl who fled her family fearing they would kill her after she rejected Islam has arrived in Toronto.
Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun garnered support around the world this week as people learned how she had barricaded herself in a Bangkok airport hotel room to resist being sent home to her family.
Her family deny any abuse, but Ms al-Qunun refused to meet her father and brother who arrived in Thailand to try and fetch the teen.
Instead, she took a Korean Air flight from Bangkok to Seoul on Friday and then a connecting flight to Toronto.
Scroll down for video
Saudi teenager Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun arrives at Pearson International airport in Toronto, Ontario
She was pictured wearing a UN Human Rights cap and 'CANADA' hoodie as she was met by officials
Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland (right) greeted Ms al-Qunun, after she landed in Toronto on Saturday morning
Ms al-Qunun walks through sliding doors as she beams alongside officials at Toronto Pearson
Ms al-Qunun shared a snap on social media of her in first class enjoying a glass of wine as she jetted off to Canada as a refugee
Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland greeted al-Qunun, after she landed in Toronto, wearing a blue ball cap and a gray hoodie emblazoned in red with the word 'CANADA.'
She Tweeted after her arrival: 'I love you Canada.'
She also Tweeted images of her in First Class drinking claret, chardonnay and eating caviar.
She wrote: 'This food tastes like freedom.'
Her case was expedited after it garnered an unprecedented amount of media attention.
She drew attention to her homeland's strict social rules, including a requirement that women have the permission of a male 'guardian' to travel, which rights groups say can trap women and girls as prisoners of abusive families.
'Canada has been unequivocal that we'll stand up for human rights and women's rights around the world,' Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said.
'When the United Nations made a request of us that we grant miss (Rahaf Mohammed) al-Qunun's asylum, we accepted.'
Canada's ambassador saw her off at the airport, Thai Police Major General Surachate Hakparn said, adding that she looked happy and healthy. 'She chose Canada. It's her personal decision,' he said.
Ms al-Qunun is the daughter of a Saudi governor and has nine siblings. She used a loophole in the state's tough laws to travel to Kuwait unaccompanied.
From there, she purchased a ticket to Bangkok and was hoping to seek asylum in Canada, the United States, Australia, the UK or 'any nation would protect her from being harmed or killed by her family'.
Instead, her passport was seized by a Saudi diplomat and she was forced to lock herself in an apartment room.
She says she spent months planning her escape before implementing her dangerous plan on January 5.
Ms al-Qunun is handed a bouquet of flowers by Canadian Foreign Minister, Ms Freeland
Ms al-Qunun beams from ear-to-ear as she finally touches down in Canada after a week of uncertainty over her future
'Canada has been unequivocal that we'll stand up for human rights and women's rights around the world,' Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (pictured) said
Canada is now the new home for Saudi refugee Ms al-Qunun (pictured) after Canada answered a request by the UNHCR
Ms al-Qunun (pictured) previously reacted to news Australia was considering granting her asylum, saying, 'Is it true??? Australia wants me to go there??? I'm so happy'
Her dire situation was compared to that of Dina Ali Lasloom, a 24-year-old woman who sought asylum under similar circumstances at Manila airport in April of 2017.
She pleaded for help but was ultimately forced back on a plane home - kicking and screaming - and has never been heard from since.
Ms al-Qunun's case garnered far more attention at a quicker speed, with many praising social media and technology.
After pleading with just 24 followers, her plight was picked up by numerous figures around the world who shared her story to their followers.
Within 24 hours, she had over 45,000 followers and growing.
Soon after, she was tweeting to 100,000 people.
Ms al-Qunun (pictured at Bangkok airport) escaped from her family when she embarked on a solo trip to Kuwait and bought a ticket to Bangkok
Ms al-Qunun pictured with Thai authorities after she escaped her family, who deny her allegations
She made headlines earlier this week after she began tweeting from the transit area of Bangkok airport, saying her life would be in danger if she returned to Kuwait.
Thai authorities eventually allowed her to enter the country on Monday evening and the UN refugee agency referred Ms al-Qunun to Australia for consideration for refugee resettlement.
The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees granted her refugee status on Wednesday.
Despite having harnessed the power of Twitter to stave off deportation on Friday, she abruptly suspended her account, with friends saying she had received death threats.
The 18-year-old (pictured with her 12-year-old sister Joud) said she had 'escaped Kuwait' and that her life would be in danger if she were forced to return to Saudi Arabia
The 18-year-old was detained in Thailand following her arrival in the country. She is pictured having barricaded herself in an airport hotel room in a bid to avoid deportation
She also opened up about living with her family in Saudi Arabia, describing it as difficult as she had no freedom.
'It was so bad. I mean, of course there are good days but they hurt me a lot.
'I have no choice to choose what I want,' she said.
The 18-year-old even rallied against online trolls who were spreading rumours on social media that she was lying about her situation.
'They don't know about my life and they don't know how my family treats me,' she said.
'I want life. I want to be independent. How can they say this just because I do something they don't like?
'I want to become a strong woman, I want freedom of expression, of religion and politics. I want to live a normal life.'
Ms al-Qunun also claimed her family would kill her if she were sent home to Saudi Arabia, where she has renounced Islam and 'rebelled' against her father.
Link hienalouca.com Interesting to note. We are looking for an investor or sponsor for a project to grow dinosaurs and relict plants . The required amount of investment from $ 400,000 to $ 900,000. It will be necessary to build a small laboratory with certain parameters. For all interested parties, email angocman@gmail.com. It will be very interesting.https://hienalouca.com/2019/01/12/saudi-teenage-girl-18-touches-down-in-toronto-wearing-canada-hoodie-after-fleeing-family/
Main photo article The Saudi 18-year-old girl who fled her family fearing they would kill her after she rejected Islam has arrived in Toronto.
Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun garnered support around the world this week as people learned how she had barricaded herself in a Bangkok airport hotel room to resist being sent...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves US News HienaLouca
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/01/12/16/8438604-6584661-image-a-62_1547308841342.jpg
Комментариев нет:
Отправить комментарий