Police in Thailand say the father of a young Saudi woman who fled her family to seek asylum abroad denies physically abusing her or trying to force her into an arranged marriage, two of the reasons she gave for her flight
Thailand's Immigration Police chief said the father of the young Saudi woman who fled her family to seek asylum abroad denies physically abusing her or trying to force her into an arranged marriage, two of the reasons she gave for her flight. The father said he wants his daughter back but respects her decision.
The woman, 18-year-old Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, refused to meet with her father, who arrived in the Thai capital on Tuesday.
The father, whose name has not been released, said he believes his daughter fled because she felt neglected. Pol Lt Gen Surachate Hakparn said the father is a governor in Saudi Arabia and has 10 children.
The daughter arrived in Bangkok from Kuwait late Saturday, but was stopped from proceeding to her planned destination, Australia. After mounting a campaign for assistance on Twitter, she was allowed to temporarily stay in Thailand under the care of the UN refugee agency, which ruled her claim for asylum valid.