BristolUK

What about trusting the UNHCR or did they just believe the big bad media?

Dorothy

But what makes this one girl so special that she should be granted refugee status by UNHCR in a few short hours when other young women with documented fears for their lives wait years?

I am not in any way saying she didn't need protection. I don't know what her life was like in Saudi, but neither does the media or UNHCR or anyone else but her and those close to her.

BristolUK

Danger coming from immediate family and all around her, rather than 'just' a civil war or government persecution, would be a factor.

Regardless, it probably wouldn't be practical to send her to a refugee camp to wait it out.

Perhaps what we should be asking is why it takes so long for others rather than querying why so quick for someone else.

At the beginning of the week it was reported the UNHCR would be taking a few days to investigate so they probably do know something specific as well as what they normally know..

Shard

​​​​​​We don't need to take anything 'on faith' at this stage, the fact that UNHCR has deemed her a refugee is confirmation that she was at risk.

carcajou

Um, no. The 48 hours or so is an extraordinarily short time frame. It is taking it "on faith." Governments and agencies like the UN are less than transparent and drive agendas all the time. Dorothy raises very valid points.

As for the other comments I have extensive experience in conflict zones, with refugees and in the Gulf. Mobile phones are cheap and plentiful and I would expect most (though perhaps not all) to have one, or at least the majority (but not all) families to have access to one. Amenities at the camps vary, as do things like Internet coverage - though the the camp administrators would have needed it so it would have been there if perhaps spotty. Going from Saudi Arabia or Kuwait to a refugee camp herself would not have been plausible. There also would have been social issues with that.

Still a lot of questions on this one. Hope all is well for everyone involved.

scrubbedexpat134

Maybe the Australian government were just doing their due diligence regarding her situation rather than just jumping in with both feet and regretting it at a later date.

dbd33

What's to regret? Canada takes refugees, here's a refugee; young, bright informed, healthy, a better bet than a random refugee from a camp and a political coup into the bargain.

carcajou

You don't know any of that, other than that she is young - and the government could not have determined most of that through this lightning-quick process. I would rather take the random refugee from the camp, because I know they have been through an extensive vetting program, including on integration and social adaptability.

dbd33

I suppose the papers might have dated her in metric years and she may have worms but she looks young in the picture and the whole complaint against her is that she's jumping the queue by being bright and informed.

Shard

Quite. Some real nitpickers on here.

caretaker

Her dad's a Saudi official (governor) so it's a slap to them politically. Her situation has little in common with the desperate multitudes who trek to refugee camps and try to find relief from war - she was making a run for it to escape her family, and if not successful would likely have been hauled back against her will and made an example of. They tried.

Danny B

She was making a run for it because she didn't believe that Muhammad split the moon in two and flew to heaven on a winged horse. At least here in Canada if your parents tell you that Moses split the red sea you can tell them to quit their bullshit and go back to smoking weed. Can't do that in Saudi.

BristolUK

Pretty sure anyone connected with the UN does too.

Where does 48 hours come from? Are you taking into account years of prior knowledge?

For her it began last Sunday, the 6th, and she flew to Canada Friday the 11th. It may seem short compared to those in camps but the situation is very unlike those in camps.

spouse of scouse

Seems to be quite a bit of back up for your point of view Dorothy, including from two Canadian former Ambassadors to Saudi
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toron...e-1.4976735bbb

cheeky_monkey

Call me a cynic but its funny why all Muslim Refugees want to go to Christian countries and not Muslim ones..i wonder why?