Rahaf al-Qunun: Saudi teenager who fled family is granted refugee status by UN

An 18-year-old Saudi woman who fled her family and refused to leave her Bangkok hotel room is a refugee, a UN agency has said.

The case of Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun has been referred to Australia for possible of asylum. In a brief statement, Australia said it would consider the request “in the usual way, as it does with all UNHCR referrals”.

Ms Al-Qunun said she had renounced Islam – known as apostasy and punishable by death in Saudi Arabia – and that she feared her family would kill her as a result.

She arrived in Thailand on Saturday on a layover between Kuwait and Australia, but was detained by the Thai authorities. 

Publicising her case on social media, Ms Al-Qunun refused to board a flight back to Kuwait, barricading herself in a hotel room. She was later placed in the care of UNHCR workers while her bid for refugee status was considered. 

More follows…