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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be disgusted with Qatars assault on these women?

352 replies

ChristmasStocckings · 26/10/2020 04:57

I'm honestly shocked at how these poor women have been treated and my heart breaks for them. How on earth did anyone think that this was ok? No one should be forced to have an examination that they did not consent too. There is no excuse for this behaviour.

www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/doha-dfat-registers-serious-concerns-after-women-pulled-off-plane-strip-searched/news-story/f4eb941d267c2211605238a574935995

OP posts:
Elizaaa · 26/10/2020 09:19

But why is a blood test less invasive than a physical exam? This is a different country with different laws and values

Does that really need to be explained? The difference between a pinprick in your arm to getting your minge out for all and sundry? Really?

ChardonnaysPetDragon · 26/10/2020 09:21

And 8% of the voting is agreeing with their treatment.

Blimey. How can you condone this?

Iminaglasscaseofemotion · 26/10/2020 09:22

I lived and worked in that hellhole and the only reason why they wanted to find the mother would be to sling her in jail.

Exactly what I was going to say. They couldn't give a shiney shite about the womans welfare. Anyone who believes that is very niave.

Chocaholic9 · 26/10/2020 09:23

@WhereamI88

This thread is insane, who are these awful women defending the Qatari government?! This story is unbelievably disturbing, it must have been so terrifying for them. I read the story an hour ago and honestly cannot get over it, so horrific.

I have had to transit through Doha before too, doesn't mean I was out on a jolly and deserved to be taken off a plane, forcibly stripped naked and have my genitals inspected for fuck sake.

During a pandemic no less.

I can tell you from experience that travelling from UK to Australia during this pandemic was awful enough. I don't know how I would have coped if the transit also involved state sanctioned sexual assault.

Ferrari458 · 26/10/2020 09:25

"But why is a blood test less invasive than a physical exam? This is a different country with different laws and values."
Bloody hell...

Chocaholic9 · 26/10/2020 09:27

@CausingChaos2

This is barbaric. I’m astounded that people, presumably women, have said it is not sexual assault on this thread. It is a gross sexual assault. I doubt any of the women concerned wanted to be examined for no benefit to themselves, and I hope to god they don’t find the mother.
Sometimes I think that misogyny in the world is so painful and anger inducing to confront, that some women (like the people on this thread) like to delude themselves it's OK or not what we think it is. That's easier than admitting that this is an evil world we live in and some places treat women like cattle.

Either that or someone's being goady for entertainment.

notacooldad · 26/10/2020 09:30

I lived and worked in that hellhole and the only reason why they wanted to find the mother would be to sling her in jail

Exactly what I was going to say. They couldn't give a shiney shite about the womans welfare. Anyone who believes that is very niave
That is why I posted earlier that I really hope they don't find the mother. I seriously doubt anyone has her best interests at heart.

Cocothefirst · 26/10/2020 09:34

It's absolutely horrific.

Cheeeeislifenow · 26/10/2020 09:38

Where do people draw the line at "dem is the rulez in dat country"?
Forced birth? Rape? Beheadings just for being a woman?
Some people's attitudes on here are astounding, how can you defend this attack on women?

Tissueboxcover · 26/10/2020 09:41

There is a high chance the mother is a rape victim desperately trying to flee the country. Why else would the poor woman end up giving birth in an airport toilet?

Cheeeeislifenow · 26/10/2020 09:41

If a woman had been raped and the suspect was on the plane, would every males penis be checked for signs of recent ejaculation? Would there foreskin be retracted? Why is this acceptable to do to women?

Cocothefirst · 26/10/2020 09:43

@Cheeeeislifenow

Where do people draw the line at "dem is the rulez in dat country"? Forced birth? Rape? Beheadings just for being a woman? Some people's attitudes on here are astounding, how can you defend this attack on women?
I'm horrified at how many people seem to think this is okay.

Women subjected to sexual assault when a blood test would have sufficed.

Friendsoftheearth · 26/10/2020 09:51

This is an horrific sexual assault, and a serious offence anywhere else in the world. There should be outrage and disgust internationally and discussions around boycotts and punishment. It is deeply deeply disturbing even by ME standards.

Even a blood test when permission is not given is not acceptable at all.

I have been to Doha a number of times, and at no time did I feel remotely safe. It is one of the most scary countries I have ever visited and I will never go back with my dds again. This scenario did not surprise me at all, anything is possible there.

I would strongly recommend the home countries of those assaulted make a significant stand against this. It is unbelievable in 2020.

mumwon · 26/10/2020 09:55

I assumed - sadly - that it is more likely someone who is a cleaner( or airhostess) who may well of been raped by their boss.
the way this was done (Guardian have a older woman who was taken off & witnessed this but because she was 60 was not assaulted who was interviewed for a second article)
The aircraft personal were not told what was happening & were equally horrified & apologetic & found it unbelievable - the authorities are at fault not individuals
By the way the baby is OK - I assume someone literally gave birth
If this was immediately after birth I would assume the woman would have been bleeding & an internal would not have been necessary (I can't imagine a woman using a tampon immediately after birth)

SerendipityJane · 26/10/2020 09:56

The UK is very cozy with the Qatar regime, of course. They're our new friends now so probably a good idea to dial down the outrage. After all, we don't want another "Death of a Princess" do we (and you can google that yourselves today. I'm tired).

movingonup20 · 26/10/2020 09:57

The way they were treated was disproportionate but it's also disgusting that a baby was left in a toilet, not sure why that flight was targeted but even in the U.K. it's illegal to conceal a birth. The mother was also likely to need medical attention and/or psychological help

Mummyoflittledragon · 26/10/2020 09:59

@Cheeeeislifenow

If a woman had been raped and the suspect was on the plane, would every males penis be checked for signs of recent ejaculation? Would there foreskin be retracted? Why is this acceptable to do to women?
I also hope they don’t find the mother and that she was long gone before the baby was discovered. How disgusting to treat women that way. Bang on. But they’re men, MEN, MEN I tell you!
Chocaholic9 · 26/10/2020 09:59

@movingonup20

The way they were treated was disproportionate but it's also disgusting that a baby was left in a toilet, not sure why that flight was targeted but even in the U.K. it's illegal to conceal a birth. The mother was also likely to need medical attention and/or psychological help
A mother might need medical attention so time to assault all the other women in the vicinity?

No they did not want to help the mother. You are very naive indeed. They wanted to punish her for leaving her baby.

Chocaholic9 · 26/10/2020 10:00

@movingonup20

The way they were treated was disproportionate but it's also disgusting that a baby was left in a toilet, not sure why that flight was targeted but even in the U.K. it's illegal to conceal a birth. The mother was also likely to need medical attention and/or psychological help
Psychological help?

I can also assure you that the Qatari's do not give a shit about women's psychological health. I hope you are not this naive in real life.

PicsInRed · 26/10/2020 10:00

There is zero chance that all of these woman meekly complied with this. Would you have complied? I wouldn't. It would have been a flat "no" and demands to see my consular staff. Again, there is zero chance that none of these women flat out refused an invasive gynecological exam.

There was a reference to forcible removal of underwear. We need to be very clear about what happened here and look past the deliberately unemotive, vague media reporting.

In all, very high, likelihood, these women were held down, stripped and digitally raped. Forcibly and violently.

That is what almost certainly happened and it's a disgrace.

Cheeeeislifenow · 26/10/2020 10:02

@movingonup why do you you think this person was driven to do this? What treatment do you think they would get if they had been found? If they weren't in such a patriarchal country that treats women poorly for being raped or even worse consensual sex out of wedlock.
Here in ireland women were shamed for rape and for having consensual sex and it lead to these kinds of tragedies where women are afraid for their lives to ask for help. Who is really at fault here? The women? They are victims just as much as the poor babies are.

ChardonnaysPetDragon · 26/10/2020 10:03

If you think that the mother will get any sort of help you are sadly very much mistaken.

She hasn’t had a choice, no one does that type of thing for fun and giggles.

unmarkedbythat · 26/10/2020 10:05

So many MNers are happy to relocate to these countries and live a life of luxury on walled estates, enjoying the high wages and high end shopping and private schooling and so on. Next time we have one of those threads people should remember this.

notacooldad · 26/10/2020 10:05

The way they were treated was disproportionate but it's also disgusting that a baby was left in a toilet, not sure why that flight was targeted but even in the U.K. it's illegal to conceal a birth. The mother was also likely to need medical attention and/or psychological help
This is not about UK standards or values. You seriously think they want to check her out and do a psychology assessment and everyone lives happily ever after.
Get a bloody grip.
Women don't just give up their babies unless they feel there is nothing else. You do not know this womans story. If she has been raped she would have to do jail time. If she wants to be free from jail she would have to marry her rapist.

Chocaholic9 · 26/10/2020 10:06

@PicsInRed

There is zero chance that all of these woman meekly complied with this. Would you have complied? I wouldn't. It would have been a flat "no" and demands to see my consular staff. Again, there is zero chance that none of these women flat out refused an invasive gynecological exam.

There was a reference to forcible removal of underwear. We need to be very clear about what happened here and look past the deliberately unemotive, vague media reporting.

In all, very high, likelihood, these women were held down, stripped and digitally raped. Forcibly and violently.

That is what almost certainly happened and it's a disgrace.

This.

What they went through WAS sexual assault.