Invasive search
Prosecutors in Qatar said yesterday that the airport police officerswho ordered forced vaginal examinations of female passengers after an abandoned newbornwasdiscovered in a trash can face possible three-year prison sentences. Prosecutors did not sayhowmany police officers at Hamadinternational Airport faced charges over theoctober 2 incident that sparked widespread anger in Australia, a key destination for the state-owned Qatar Airways. The Australian government denounced the searches as inappropriate and beyond circumstances in which the womencould give free and informed consent. Rights activists say such exams conducted under duress amountto sexual assault. In Qatar, likemuchof the Middle East, sex and childbirth outside ofmarriage are criminalised.