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Kidnapping at NAIA Manila International Airport Passenger in transit snatched and returned against her wishes to Saudi Arabia
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By Lolita Tan 01. Jul 2017
On 9th April 2017 a Miss Lasloom Dina Ali (24) departed Kuwait on Philippine Airline flight PR669 arriving in Manila on 10 Apr. at or about 03.35 am and awaiting in the departure area terminal 2 (Philippine Airlines terminal) to continue her journey with Philippine Airline flight PR213 departure 11.15 am to Sydney. Philippine Airlines had already issued her boarding pass; seat #30K.
Miss Ali was seeking a save harbour in Australia trying to get away from a forced marriage in Saudi which is apparently a common occurrence in this country.
However while in the transit area Manila airport officials in company with officials from The Saudi embassy in Manila approached her and confiscated her passport thereby preventing her to board the booked Philippine Airline flight as reported by renowned Manila newspaper Inquirer.. Miss Ali was than escorted to terminal 1 and put on a Saudi Airlines flight to Riad,
A witness to the event reported that Miss Ali expressed fears for her live if she is returned to Saudi. Human rights watch group which are looking in to the case have so far been unsuccessful to locate Miss Ali.
One (hoodlum) from the Saudi embassy pretended to be her father during Miss Ali,s ordeal at Manila airport which Miss Ali vehemently denied. In Saudi females are not allowed to travel without the permission of a male guardian but does this rule extends as far as the airport in Manila?
There are some unanswered questions in this case. Under who's order did Manila airport staff assist in the kidnapping, this assuming that Manila airport administration is not in the chain of command of the Saudi embassy. A letter we received from Mr. Eddie V. Morales (General Manager on Manila Airport Authority) is more confusing than informative.
Philippine Airline did not respond at all to our request for further information. It is questionable how the flight booking details of Miss Ali came in to the possession of the Saudi government.
It may well be advisable to avoid travelling to Manila for any woman running away from a forced marriage as well as system critics, dissidents or anyone who is a “thorn in the eye of there home country government ” if this country has a embassy in Manila..
The role Philippines authorities played in Lasloom’s return is unclear. As a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention and the Convention against Torture, the Philippines has an obligation not to return anyone to a territory where they face persecution because of their gender or a real risk of torture or cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment
Wikipedia has a detailed report on Miss Ali’s ordeal.
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