Australian Women Win Right to Sue Qatar Airways Over 2020 Strip Searches

Five Australian women who were allegedly subjected to invasive and non-consensual strip searches at Doha's Hamad Airport in 2020 have won the right to sue Qatar Airways following a federal court ruling. The searches were conducted after a newborn was found abandoned in the airport, prompting authorities to remove numerous female passengers from aircraft in search of the mother. The women, who claim they were assaulted, falsely imprisoned, and subjected to mental stress, initially faced legal barriers, including the dismissal of their case against the airline and airport operator. However, the Full Court overturned this dismissal, ruling that the matter should be decided at trial due to unresolved factual questions, though the lawsuit against the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority was barred due to sovereign immunity. The case has drawn international attention, with Australia's government citing the incident as a factor in restricting Qatar Airways' flight operations. Qatar's then prime minister offered apologies for the incident, while the women now seek compensation for the harms they endured during the ordeal.