Saudi Sisters Make Hong Kong Interception Claim

Hong Kong police are following up on allegations that two Saudi sisters have been intercepted by Saudi consular staff at Hong Kong International Airport, while trying to flee to Australia. The two fled to Hong Kong six months ago from a family holiday in Sri Lanka, reportedly after suffering abuse and renouncing Islam, which carries the death penalty in Saudi Arabia.

In a statement Hong Kong police said they had received two separate reports in early September last year. One was made by an expatriate man, which was later classified as "Missing Person Located" and the other was made by two expatriate women, which was later classified as "Request for Police Investigation". Police said the latter was now being followed up by Crime, New Territories South.

Reports say the pair, who are 18 and 20 and go under the aliases of Reem and Rawan, had arrived in Hong Kong on September 6. They found their connecting flight to Australia had been cancelled and it is then that they allege Saudi consular staff attempted to place them on a flight to Riyadh.

"We fled our home to ensure our safety. We hope that we can be given asylum in a country which recognises women's rights and treats them as equals," the pair said in a statement shared by prominent lawyer Michael Vidler.

It is understood their passports have been cancelled and they can only stay in Hong Kong until next Thursday and they have filed an application for an emergency visa to a third country.

The case has emerged a month after 18-year-old Saudi woman Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun drew global attention with her dramatic escape from an allegedly abusive family, gaining refugee status in Canada last month. (With additional reporting from AFP)

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