Qatar accused of ignoring women after 'traumatic' airport searches

One of the women pulled off a plane at Doha airport and forced to undergo an invasive gynaecological search told AFP Wednesday that she feels "disrespected and disregarded" by Qatari authorities and is still "terrified" of travelling a year later. The French woman in her fifties, who asked not to be named, was among a group who were subjected to intrusive examinations in October 2020 as authorities tried to identify the mother of a newborn abandoned in an airport bathroom. The country's prime minister issued a public apology, while an airport police officer who oversaw the searches was reportedly convicted. Qatari officials said apologies had been conveyed through direct channels with Australia, while training was rolled out to airport staff to ensure the incident was not repeated. Seven women are now launching legal action against Qatar Airways and Qatari authorities, seeking redress for an ordeal that sparked condemnation and global attention ahead of the country hosting the 2022 World Cup. The woman said she remained "absolutely terrified" at the thought of travelling again. "I don't think that there's been a single day when I haven't thought about it," she told AFP. "It's still very much present in my mind." She was among a group of female passengers escorted off a Sydney-bound plane late at night without explanation. Story has more.<br/>