Court allows Australian women to sue Qatar Airways over invasive strip searches
Women on 10 Qatar Airways flights, including 13 Australians, were subjected to invasive examinations to see if they had recently given birth after a newborn baby was found abandoned at Doha's Hamad Airport in October 2020.
The incident made headlines around the world, sparked outrage in Australia and strained diplomatic ties with Qatar.
A group of five women on a Sydney-bound flight launched legal proceedings in 2022 against Qatar Airways, the operator of Doha Airport MATAR, and Qatar's Civil Aviation Authority.
They brought claims under the Montreal Convention, which covers airline liability, as well as negligence, assault and false imprisonment.
The women sought damages for the impact on their mental health, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, stemming from the "unlawful physical contact".
After being escorted off their flight by armed Qatari authorities, some women claimed they were made to take off their underwear and subjected to non-consensual gynaecological inspections by a nurse in ambulances on the tarmac.
Federal Court Justice John Halley dismissed the claims against Qatar Airways last year, finding they had no reasonable prospect of success, and that Qatar's Civil Aviation Authority amounted to a foreign state immune from Australian law.
On Thursday, the full Federal Court overturned the ruling on Qatar Airways saying the issue was too complex to be dismissed summarily.
'Whether or not the claims come within the scope of (the Montreal Convention) is a matter of some complexity,' the summary judgment said.
'It is therefore not an issue apt to be decided at the stage of summary dismissal.'
The judgement allows the women to continue their lawsuit against Qatar Airways and MATAR. Both companies were ordered to pay the costs of the appeal.
'Our clients endured a traumatic experience on that night in Doha, and they deserve to have their day in court and compensation for their suffering,' said Damian Sturzaker, the lawyer from Marque Lawyers representing the women.
'We will continue to support them as the case continues in the Federal Court.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Economic Times
38 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Five Al Jazeera staff killed in Gaza airstrike
Mourners carry the body of Al Jazeera correspondent Anas Al Sharif in Gaza City Synopsis "Anas Al Sharif and his colleagues were among the last remaining voices in Gaza conveying the tragic reality to the world," Al Jazeera said. Al Sharif, 28, was among a group of four Al Jazeera journalists and an assistant who died in an airstrike on a tent near Al Shifa Hospital in eastern Gaza City, Gaza officials and Al Jazeera said. An official at the hospital said two other people were killed in the strike. CAIRO/JERUSALEM: A prominent Al Jazeera journalist, who had previously been threatened by Israel, was killed along with four colleagues in an Israeli airstrike on Sunday in an attack condemned by journalists and rights groups. ADVERTISEMENT Israel's military said it targeted and killed Anas Al Sharif, alleging he had headed a Hamas militant cell and was involved in rocket attacks on Israel. Al Jazeera, which is funded by the Qatari government, rejected the assertion, and before his death, Al Sharif had also rejected such claims by Israel. "Anas Al Sharif and his colleagues were among the last remaining voices in Gaza conveying the tragic reality to the world," Al Jazeera Sharif, 28, was among a group of four Al Jazeera journalists and an assistant who died in an airstrike on a tent near Al Shifa Hospital in eastern Gaza City, Gaza officials and Al Jazeera said. An official at the hospital said two other people were killed in the strike. A sixth journalist, Mohammad Al-Khaldi, a local freelance reporter, was also killed in the strike, medics at Al Shifa Hospital said on Monday. ADVERTISEMENT Calling Al Sharif "one of Gaza's bravest journalists," Al Jazeera said the attack was a "desperate attempt to silence voices in anticipation of the occupation of Gaza."The other journalists killed were Mohammed Qreiqeh, Ibrahim Zaher and Mohammed Noufal, Al Jazeera said. ADVERTISEMENT "The deliberate targeting of journalists by Israel in the Gaza Strip reveals how these crimes are beyond imagination," Qatari Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, said on UN human rights office condemned the killing of the journalists, saying the actions by Israel's military represented a "grave breach of international humanitarian law" as Palestinians reported the heaviest bombardments in weeks. ADVERTISEMENT Its post on social media platform X was accompanied by a photograph of flattened blue tents next to a bullet-ridden wall in Gaza Prime Minister Keir Starmer is "gravely concerned" about the repeated targeting of journalists in Gaza, his spokesperson said. ADVERTISEMENT The Israeli military said in a statement that Al Sharif headed a Hamas cell and "was responsible for advancing rocket attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF (Israeli) troops," citing intelligence and documents found in Gaza as evidence. It has not made these denies deliberately targeting journalists. It says many of those killed in Israeli airstrikes were members of Islamist militant groups, working under the guise of the Monday, people gathered at Sheikh Radwan Cemetery in the heart of the Gaza Strip to mourn the journalists. Friends, colleagues and relatives embraced and consoled one another, many wiping away tears as they bid farewell. Al Sharif was previously part of a Reuters team which in 2024 won a Pulitzer Prize in the category of Breaking News Photography for coverage of the Israel-Hamas war. The war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza is the deadliest on record for journalists, according to the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs' Costs of War Hamas-run Gaza government media office said 238 journalists have been killed since the war started on October 7, 2023. The Committee to Protect Journalists said at least 186 journalists have been killed in the Gaza conflict. A press freedom group and a United Nations expert previously warned that Al Sharif's life was in danger due to his reporting from Gaza. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel) al jazeeraanas al sharifgaza (Catch all the US News, UK News, Canada News, International Breaking News Events, and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.) Download The Economic Times News App to get Daily International News Updates. NEXT STORY
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Five Al Jazeera staff killed in Gaza airstrike
"Anas Al Sharif and his colleagues were among the last remaining voices in Gaza conveying the tragic reality to the world," Al Jazeera said. Al Sharif, 28, was among a group of four Al Jazeera journalists and an assistant who died in an airstrike on a tent near Al Shifa Hospital in eastern Gaza City, Gaza officials and Al Jazeera said. An official at the hospital said two other people were killed in the strike. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads CAIRO/JERUSALEM: A prominent Al Jazeera journalist, who had previously been threatened by Israel, was killed along with four colleagues in an Israeli airstrike on Sunday in an attack condemned by journalists and rights military said it targeted and killed Anas Al Sharif , alleging he had headed a Hamas militant cell and was involved in rocket attacks on Jazeera, which is funded by the Qatari government, rejected the assertion, and before his death, Al Sharif had also rejected such claims by Israel."Anas Al Sharif and his colleagues were among the last remaining voices in Gaza conveying the tragic reality to the world," Al Jazeera Sharif, 28, was among a group of four Al Jazeera journalists and an assistant who died in an airstrike on a tent near Al Shifa Hospital in eastern Gaza City, Gaza officials and Al Jazeera said. An official at the hospital said two other people were killed in the strike.A sixth journalist, Mohammad Al-Khaldi , a local freelance reporter, was also killed in the strike, medics at Al Shifa Hospital said on Al Sharif "one of Gaza's bravest journalists," Al Jazeera said the attack was a "desperate attempt to silence voices in anticipation of the occupation of Gaza."The other journalists killed were Mohammed Qreiqeh, Ibrahim Zaher and Mohammed Noufal, Al Jazeera said."The deliberate targeting of journalists by Israel in the Gaza Strip reveals how these crimes are beyond imagination," Qatari Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, said on UN human rights office condemned the killing of the journalists, saying the actions by Israel's military represented a "grave breach of international humanitarian law" as Palestinians reported the heaviest bombardments in post on social media platform X was accompanied by a photograph of flattened blue tents next to a bullet-ridden wall in Gaza Prime Minister Keir Starmer is "gravely concerned" about the repeated targeting of journalists in Gaza, his spokesperson Israeli military said in a statement that Al Sharif headed a Hamas cell and "was responsible for advancing rocket attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF (Israeli) troops," citing intelligence and documents found in Gaza as evidence. It has not made these denies deliberately targeting journalists. It says many of those killed in Israeli airstrikes were members of Islamist militant groups, working under the guise of the Monday, people gathered at Sheikh Radwan Cemetery in the heart of the Gaza Strip to mourn the journalists. Friends, colleagues and relatives embraced and consoled one another, many wiping away tears as they bid Sharif was previously part of a Reuters team which in 2024 won a Pulitzer Prize in the category of Breaking News Photography for coverage of the Israel-Hamas war The war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza is the deadliest on record for journalists, according to the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs' Costs of War Hamas-run Gaza government media office said 238 journalists have been killed since the war started on October 7, 2023. The Committee to Protect Journalists said at least 186 journalists have been killed in the Gaza conflict.A press freedom group and a United Nations expert previously warned that Al Sharif's life was in danger due to his reporting from Gaza.
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Mizoram: Police seize narcotics worth around Rs 302 crore in multiple operations
Aizawl (Mizoram) [India], August 11 (ANI): Mizoram police has seized a massive haul of illegal drugs valued at nearly Rs 302 crore over multiple coordinated operations across the state in the past two weeks, officials an official statement, Mizoram Police Inspector General of Police (Headquarters) and Chief Public Relations Officer H Ramthlengliana said, 'Our relentless and untiring drive against drugs and other illegal activities continues. Significant seizures of contraband items were recently made by Mizoram Police at several locations."A joint operation on August 9 by the Special Narcotics Police Station under CID Crime and the 225 Battalion CRPF in Aizawl led to the interception of a car in the Seling and Bungbangla areas. Authorities seized 3.930 kilograms of methamphetamine tablets, estimated at Rs 51.09 lakh. Three individuals — Sahab Uddin (41), Emanuel Remnalalliana (25), and Lalbiaksiama (23) — were arrested. A case has been registered under sections 22(c), 25, and 29(1) of the NDPS on August 6, Champhai Police seized 1.053 kilograms (88 soap cases) of suspected heroin valued at Rs 31.59 lakh from a vehicle at the Khankawn Checkgate. Agnes Lalremsiami (32) was arrested in connection with this case registered under section 21(c) of the NDPS Act. One of the largest seizures took place on August 1, when a joint team from CID Special Branch and Special Narcotics PS intercepted a pickup truck on the Zemabawk-Seling route. Officers discovered a hidden compartment containing 20.304 kilograms of suspected crystal methamphetamine worth approximately Rs 300 crore, along with 1.625 kilograms (120 soap cases) of heroin valued at Rs 49.56 lakh. The driver, B Lalthazuala (45), was arrested, and a subsequent interrogation led to the arrest of the main suspect, Bawilianthang (42). The case is registered under sections 21(c), 22(c), and 25 of the NDPS another operation on the night of August 1, Lunglei Police and the 20th Battalion Assam Rifles seized 220.81 grams (18 soap cases) of heroin, valued at Rs 6.62 lakh, from a passenger named Lalrintluangi (33) aboard a Lunglei-bound vehicle from Champhai. Additional heroin totalling 120.31 grams (10 soap cases), worth Rs 3.61 lakh, was seized from three other passengers in the same vehicle. On July 31, Champhai Police at Khankawn Checkgate recovered 167 grams (16 soap cases) of heroin, valued at Rs 5.01 lakh, from Lalmuanawma (38) and K. Lalawmpuia (27). In a separate incident, the same day, 364 grams (31 soap cases) of heroin worth Rs 10.92 lakh were seized from three individuals residing in Aizawl.A coordinated operation on July 28 by Champhai Police and CID Special Branch led to the seizure of 440 grams (36 soap cases) of heroin worth Rs 13.20 lakh from Kalpo Jyoti Borah (26) of Assam and Rajan Brahma (32) of Arunachal Pradesh. The drugs were concealed in a hidden compartment inside a vehicle, which was also seized. (ANI)
