Saudi teen who fled her family in fear gets a new home in Canada
- 5 years ago
#RahafMohammed #Canada
CANADA — Canada granted asylum to Rahaf Mohammed, a Saudi teenager, last week after she escaped her family, CBS News reports.
Reporting from a press conference Rahaf was speaking at, CNN quotes her as saying,
"I am one of the lucky ones. I know there are unlucky women who disappeared after trying to escape, or who could not do anything to change their reality."
In an interview with CBC News, Rahaf explained how she was physically and mentally abused by her family since age 16.
She was born Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun[c][d]. She dropped her surname after her family disowned her.
Rahaf planned to escape when she turned 18, as she would be considered a legal adult by then. She explained she would not be allowed to travel by herself in Saudi Arabia. So Rahaf persuaded her parents to take her with them on a vacation to Kuwait where would be able to travel by herself.
This is when she planned to escape. Rahaf said she left the hotel early one night while her family were asleep and bought a one-way ticket to Thailand. However, authorities in Bangkok stopped her at the airport and seized her passport. Rahaf then barricaded herself in an airport hotel room to avoid being sent back to her family, CNN reports.
She also turned to Twitter for help. The resulting tweets went viral and sparked international outrage. And eventually, Thai officials decided not to send Rahaf back. Instead, they let her remain in Bangkok under the protection of the United Nations, CBC News reports.
On Twitter, Rahaf asked for help from various countries to grant her asylum. That's when Canada stepped in last Friday, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau saying Canada would grant asylum to Rahaf, France 24 reports.
In a Twitter post, Rahaf said she wants to thank the public for saving her life and supporting her. She also added she looks forward to life in Canada.
SOURCES: CNN, France 24, CBC News, Twitter / Rahaf Mohammed,
https://edition.cnn.com/2019/01/15/americas/saudi-teen-asylum-intl/index.html
https://www.france24.com/en/20190115-canada-saudi-arabia-teen-asylum-win-trudeau-refugee-rahaf-mohammed-al-qunun-diplomacy
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saudi-teen-fled-thailand-canada-1.4977664
https://twitter.com/rahaf84427714/media
CANADA — Canada granted asylum to Rahaf Mohammed, a Saudi teenager, last week after she escaped her family, CBS News reports.
Reporting from a press conference Rahaf was speaking at, CNN quotes her as saying,
"I am one of the lucky ones. I know there are unlucky women who disappeared after trying to escape, or who could not do anything to change their reality."
In an interview with CBC News, Rahaf explained how she was physically and mentally abused by her family since age 16.
She was born Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun[c][d]. She dropped her surname after her family disowned her.
Rahaf planned to escape when she turned 18, as she would be considered a legal adult by then. She explained she would not be allowed to travel by herself in Saudi Arabia. So Rahaf persuaded her parents to take her with them on a vacation to Kuwait where would be able to travel by herself.
This is when she planned to escape. Rahaf said she left the hotel early one night while her family were asleep and bought a one-way ticket to Thailand. However, authorities in Bangkok stopped her at the airport and seized her passport. Rahaf then barricaded herself in an airport hotel room to avoid being sent back to her family, CNN reports.
She also turned to Twitter for help. The resulting tweets went viral and sparked international outrage. And eventually, Thai officials decided not to send Rahaf back. Instead, they let her remain in Bangkok under the protection of the United Nations, CBC News reports.
On Twitter, Rahaf asked for help from various countries to grant her asylum. That's when Canada stepped in last Friday, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau saying Canada would grant asylum to Rahaf, France 24 reports.
In a Twitter post, Rahaf said she wants to thank the public for saving her life and supporting her. She also added she looks forward to life in Canada.
SOURCES: CNN, France 24, CBC News, Twitter / Rahaf Mohammed,
https://edition.cnn.com/2019/01/15/americas/saudi-teen-asylum-intl/index.html
https://www.france24.com/en/20190115-canada-saudi-arabia-teen-asylum-win-trudeau-refugee-rahaf-mohammed-al-qunun-diplomacy
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saudi-teen-fled-thailand-canada-1.4977664
https://twitter.com/rahaf84427714/media