A tourist visa that 18-year-old asylum seeker Rahaf Mohammed Mutlaq Alqunun hoped would subsequently be parlayed into a bid for asylum once she reached Australia, has been canceled.
ABC reporter Sophie McNeill broke the news at about 7:30am with a tweet attributing the decision to Australian Minister for Home Affairs Peter Dutton. The latest change in the 18-year-old’s situation was then confirmed by Human Rights Watch deputy Asia director Phil Robertson, who told Coconuts Bangkok the move was not necessarily unexpected.
BREAKING NEWS@PeterDutton_MP HAS CANCELLED #SAVERAHAF‘S AUSTRALIAN VISA.
— #SaveRahaf (@SarahRubyWrites) January 8, 2019
“Yes, the visa has been cancelled by Australia government, because she applied as a tourist to go study. Of course, that was not her intention. It is standard operating procedure that they would cancel the visa under these circumstances,” he said this morning.
What happens next is dependent on the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Robertson added.
For the time being, that means a waiting game, as the traditionally tight-lipped UN agency focuses on potential options for the teen, who is fleeing an allegedly abusive family in Saudi Arabia and was very nearly deported on a Kuwaiti Airlines flight yesterday morning.
“We are not going to be able to provide any more comments and updates. Our job now is to assess her case and come up with viable options and solutions,” an unidentified UNHCR representative told us over the phone.
In a written statement published barely an hour ago, they reiterated they were still in the process of “assessing the protection claim for Saudi asylum-seeker Alqunun.”
Separately, Alqunun’s father arrived at the airport last night. While there has been no indication this would substantively affect her situation, Alqunun said the development had left her “worried and scared” in a tweet published around 9pm.
Hey I’m Rahaf. My father just arrived as I heard witch worried and scared me a lot and I want to go to another country that I seek asylum in
But at least I feel save now under UNHCR protection with the agreement of Thailand authorities. And I finally got my passport back🙏🏻❤️ pic.twitter.com/pQER7HDVi7— Rahaf Mohammed رهف محمد القنون (@rahaf84427714) January 7, 2019
On a positive note, Alqunun has now left the airport and is once again in possession of her passport. She departed her home of three days at about 8:30pm last night in the UN’s care, according to Khaosod English.
Immigration Chief Lt. Gen. Surachate Hakparn added that UNHCR had provided the 18-year-old refugee with other accommodations in Bangkok.
Finally 🙏🏼 #SaveRahaf pic.twitter.com/e8UkjVqSRk
— A (@amaniija) January 7, 2019
According to Robertson, Surachate, who yesterday indicated publicly that Alqunun would not be deported, is due to meet with Saudi officials today.
“The Thais have to go explain to the Saudi government about their decision. The Saudis will likely be quite angry,” Robertson said.
The UN agency is expected to take between five to seven days to evaluate her claim for asylum, reported NPR.
A spokesperson for the Australian Department of Home Affairs has confirmed that a visitor visa is not applicable in this process. “Any application by Ms Al-Qunun for a humanitarian visa will be carefully considered once the UNHCR process has concluded,” they told us this afternoon.
They expressed their concerns on this matter and the needs of Alqunun.
This story has been updated with a new statement obtained from the Australian Department of Home Affairs
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