Friday, Mar 29 2024 | Time 06:45 Hrs(IST)
image
World


Canada grants asylum for Saudi teen who fled family: UNHCR

Canada grants asylum for Saudi teen who fled family: UNHCR

United Nations, Jan 12 (UNI) Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun’s desperate and ultimately successful bid for asylum in the face of alleged death-threats from her own family, provides a “glimpse into the precarious situation of millions of refugees worldwide” has said the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
In a statement on Friday, the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, said Canada had agreed to give asylum to the 18-year-old Saudi national who fled her family in Kuwait before her passport was taken away at the Bangkok airport on Sunday.
She was offered protection by UNHCR, and taken to a place of safety, while her claim was assessed by the UN agency, which decided that her claim was valid. Thai officials blocked Saudi requests for her to be sent back to Kuwait.
The agency welcomed the decision of the Canadian Government to provide international protection and a new home for the Saudi national there as a resettled refugee.
UNCHR chief Filippo Grandi said in his statement that “refugee protection today is often under threat and cannot always be assured, but in this instance international refugee law and overriding values of humanity have prevailed.”
UNHCR consistently advocates for the principle of non-refoulment, which states that anyone confirmed, or claiming to be in need of international protection, cannot be returned to a territory where their life or freedom are threatened. This principle is recognized as customary international law and is also enshrined in Thailand’s treaty obligations, according to UNHCR, although it is not a party to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol, defining the status of refugees.
With political sentiment and public attitudes towards refugees having hardened in some countries in recent years, formal resettlement - the mechanism by which Ms al-Qunun has been accepted by Canada - is available only to a fraction of the world’s 25.4 million refugees, typically those at greatest risk, many of whom are women.
The case was dealt with on a fast-track ‘emergency’ basis in light of the urgency of her situation. Ms al-qunun said that she would be killed if sent back home.
UNi XC-SNU 1104

More News

France's Le Pen accuses gov't of 'pickpocketing' French in attempt to cut budget deficit

28 Mar 2024 | 4:19 PM

Paris, Mar 28 (UNI) Marine Le Pen, the leader of the French right-wing National Rally Party's parliamentary faction, has said that the government's reform of social security for the unemployed is an attempt to "pickpocket" the French to reduce the national budget deficit caused by the authorities' failures.

see more..

Turkish Prez's admin denies claims economic outlook grim for next 1 5 yrs

28 Mar 2024 | 4:19 PM

Ankara, Mar 28 (UNI) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's administration has denied social media claims that a long, tough period lies before the country's economy for a year and a half, accusing those who disseminate this disinformation and stoking panic ahead of the municipal elections slated for Sunday.

see more..

US agencies didn't share all data about threat of terror attack with Russia: NYT

28 Mar 2024 | 4:12 PM

Washington, Mar 28 (UNI) US intelligence agencies did not provide the Russian side with all the information they had about the threat of a terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall in the Moscow Region, The New York Times reported on Thursday, citing European and US security officials.

see more..

Russia working with China, Turkey, UAE on payments constructively

28 Mar 2024 | 4:07 PM

Moscow, Mar 28 (UNI) Russia is working with China, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates on the issue of payments very constructively and takes into account the possibility of pressure from the United States and the European Union, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.

see more..

Over 12,500 criminal suspects apprehended in Afghan

28 Mar 2024 | 3:29 PM

Kabul, Mar 28 (UNI) The Afghan police have arrested 12,540 suspects criminal over the past six months across the country, the Ministry of Interior Affairs said on Thursday.

see more..
image