Thailand halts plan to expel Saudi woman Rahaf Alqunun fleeing family

Thai officials now plan to meet representatives of the UN High Commission for Refugees to discuss the case, immigration chief Surachate Hakparn said.

Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun, Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun saudi arabia, saudi arabia, woman flees saudi arabia, saudi woman seeks refuge, bangkok saudi, world news, Rahaf Alqunun,bangkok, United Nations Refugee Agency, world news, latest news — Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun has been at Bangkok’s international airport since Saturday when she arrived on a flight from Kuwait. She has said she fears she will be killed if she is returned to her family. (Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun/Human Rights Watch via AP)

Thailand halted plans on Monday to expel an 18-year-old Saudi woman fleeing her family after she barricaded herself inside an airport hotel to prevent immigration officials putting her on a flight to Kuwait.

Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun has been at Bangkok’s international airport since Saturday when she arrived on a flight from Kuwait. She has said she fears she will be killed if she is returned to her family, which could not be reached for comment on her accusations of abuse.

Thai officials now plan to meet representatives of the U.N. High Commission for Refugees to discuss the case, immigration chief Surachate Hakparn told reporters.

Read: Saudi woman Rahaf Alqunun, who tried to flee family, says ‘they will kill me’