According to Thailand's Khaosod online news portal, on 8 January, Alqunun left the airport under the care of the employees of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Bangkok.
The Thai authorities granted the Saudi fugitive a permission to stay in the country for five days, the period, during which the UN personnel should find a safe country which will provide Alqunun with a permanent shelter, the news outlet added.
Australia to Consider Asylum Plea of Fugitive Saudi Woman
Australia is ready to carefully consider an asylum application from young Saudi woman Rahaf Alqunun, who fled her home country for fear of being forced to marry, media reported on Tuesday, citing the Department of Home Affairs.
"Any application by Ms Al-Qunun for a humanitarian visa will be carefully considered once the UNHCR process has concluded", a spokesman for the department told SBS News.
The spokesman added that Canberra had expressed its concerns over the situation to the Thai government and the UNHCR office in Bangkok, stressing the need to expedite the processing of woman’s case.
READ MORE: 'You've Been Divorced': Saudi Women Will Now Be Informed by Text Message
The situation with Alqunun's running away came to light and attracted the attention of human rights activists after the woman released a video address in which she spoke of the reasons for her escape. Alqunun, in particular, said that if she returned to her homeland he would either be jailed or killed by relatives for harming the family's honour.
