Court permits lawsuit against Qatar airport operator for forced gynecological exams to proceed

In a recent development in Melbourne, an Australian court has dismissed a case brought by five women against Qatar Airways for invasive gynecological examinations conducted on passengers at Doha’s airport in 2020. However, the case against the airport’s operator is still ongoing.

The incident took place on October 2, 2020, when hundreds of women were forcibly removed from airliners in Doha as officials searched for the mother of a newborn baby found dumped in a terminal trash can. Thirteen women, including the five plaintiffs, were removed from a flight to Sydney and subjected to non-consensual gynecological or intimate physical examinations.

Federal Court Justice John Halley ruled that the women’s argument against Qatar Airways did not meet international airline liability protocols, citing the exclusivity principle. He also stated that the case against the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority could not proceed, but the case against the airport’s operator, MATAR, could continue.

The women’s lawyer, Damian Sturzaker, expressed his clients’ intention to consider an appeal, emphasizing their determination to pursue their claims against MATAR. The case is set to return to court on May 10.

Transport Minister Catherine King did not immediately comment on the ruling, but she previously cited the examinations as a reason for denying Qatar Airways’ request to increase services to Australia. Qatar Airways Senior Vice President Matt Raos assured an Australian Senate inquiry that such examinations would never be repeated, emphasizing the airline’s commitment to preventing similar incidents in the future.