Thai Police: We Will Not Deport Saudi Asylum Seeker

The head of Thailand's immigration police stated on Monday, January 7, that they will not deport an 18-year-old Saudi woman, Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun, who was stopped in Bangkok on her way to Australia against her will. She claims her safety is at risk from her family members and the Saudi government, and she intended to seek asylum in Australia. According to United Nations regulations regarding the protection of asylum seekers, she was allowed to remain in Thailand for at least 5 to 7 days while her asylum request is being reviewed. After Ms. Alqunun agreed to leave the hotel room where she had been confined, Thai immigration police released images of her. It is still unclear whether she will spend this time in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, or be transferred to another location. During her time in the hotel room, she had been pleading for help on social media. She began posting on Twitter after her passport was confiscated upon her arrival from Kuwait to Bangkok on Saturday evening. The agreement for her exit from the hotel at Bangkok airport came after a meeting between officials from the UN Refugee Agency and the commander of Thailand's immigration police. The UN Refugee Agency has not released information about this meeting, but a spokesperson for the agency in Thailand stated, 'The meeting was conducted in a good atmosphere and with the aim of cooperation.' According to the commander of Thailand's immigration police, Ms. Alqunun's father is expected to arrive in Bangkok on Monday night, after which officials will determine whether the young woman is willing to return to Kuwait, her family's current residence, with her father. This police official stated at a press conference at Bangkok airport, 'At present, she does not want to return home, and we will not force her. Tonight, we will not return her to any country.' He added, 'This woman has escaped hardship, and Thailand is the land of smiles. We do not deport anyone to die. We adhere to human rights standards.' The Associated Press reports that Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun has stated on social media that if she is returned to Saudi Arabia, her life will be in danger, claiming in interviews that her family may kill her. In an interview with the BBC, she said she has turned away from Islam and is very afraid of her father's revenge. On Monday, by locking herself in her hotel room, she was able to prevent her deportation. Photos she posted on social media show that she had placed furniture behind the door to prevent anyone from opening it. Her plea for help is reminiscent of the stories of several other Saudi women who have sought help on social media after fleeing their families in recent years. Ms. Alqunun's Twitter account gained over 50,000 followers in 48 hours, and her case has drawn the attention of many governments around the world and the UN Refugee Agency. Her asylum request has once again drawn international attention to the difficulties faced by women in Saudi society, including the guardianship law, which states that women cannot travel or marry without the consent of a male guardian.