Saudi sisters stuck in Hong Kong 'more vulnerable' than Rahaf, expert warns

Two fleeing Saudi sisters who were intercepted in Hong Kong are in a "more vulnerable" position that Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun was in Thailand, a refugee expert says.

The sisters fear the death penalty if they return to Saudi Arabia where they fled to escape to Australia.

The sisters fear the death penalty if they return to Saudi Arabia where they fled to escape to Australia. Source: CNN

The case of two is similar in principal but "far more complicated" to that of Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, according to an Amnesty International refugee expert. 


The sisters, who have adopted the aliases Reem and Rawan, said in a statement via their lawyer they had renounced Islam and fear the death penalty if forced to return to Saudi Arabia.

The sisters aged 20 and 18, whose representatives say they suffered violent abuse, fled to Hong Kong in September from a family holiday in Sri Lanka and were planning to fly on to Australia.

But they say they were obstructed by Saudi officials and have been living in hiding in the Chinese city for nearly six months since.
Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun
Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun stands with Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland (right) as she arrives at Toronto Pearson International Airport. Source: AAP
Amnesty's refugee policy expert Dr Graham Thom told SBS News the sisters were in a "very vulnerable" position, and had been forced to relocate 13 times.

Dr Thom said the main difference from the al-Qunun case in Thailand was that Hong Kong authorities "take over status determination" of an individual - which stops the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) from promptly granting refugee status. 

In the case of al-Qunun, who was detained at Bangkok Airport after fleeing alleged domestic violence in her homeland, the UNHCR took only days to declare that she was at risk, which   




"The UNHCR takes the lead roll in recognisng refugees in Thailand. In that situation you were able to get UNHCR to operate very quickly to recognise Rahaf and therefore it expedited her resettlement to Canada," he said.

"[It leads to] a very drawn out process in Hong Kong. People would eventually be referred to the UNHCR to be referred for resettlement, but the girls are worried about how long that process could take."


Dr Thom said that the US had traditionally resettled refugees out of Hong Kong, but had "dramatically scaled back" its efforts in recent years. 

He said Australia's humanitarian program allowed it to fill the void left by the US in Hong Kong. 

"Australia does have a humanitarian program, we have a specific 'women at risk' component of our humanitarian program. And seeing as Australia played no small part in them being trapped in a dangerous situation they're in at the moment, it's only right that Australia resettlement them as women at risk," he said. 

"Given the vulnerability of these girls, it would be important for Australia to use its discretion that it has under its program recognising their vulnerability and resettling them here."
Amnesty International's Refugee Policy Expert Dr Graham Thom.
Amnesty International's Refugee Policy Expert Dr Graham Thom. Source: AAP
Saudi Arabia is one of the world's most restrictive countries for women, Dr Thom said, adding that efforts by women to flee would only become more frequent.  

"The male guardianship laws are very strict, and after Rahaf's case, people are very aware of just how strict they are and the permission that women need to get from their male guardians to get a passport, and essentially to do anything," he said.

"The consequences for women who disobey are very severe and often if they're lucky will end up in women shelters which essentially are prisons for them because they cannot leave without the male guardian."

SBS News has contacted the UNHCR for comment.


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3 min read
Published 23 February 2019 5:35pm
By Peter Theodosiou


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