Woman who fled family celebrates first birthday as a free woman
Saudi woman who fled her oppressive family celebrates her first birthday as a free woman after being granted asylum in Canada
- Rahaf Mohammed barricaded herself in Bangkok airport hotel room in December
- She said she took action in a bid not be sent back home to her oppressive family
- She was handed over to the UN refugee agency and resettled to Canada
- Today she took to Twitter to celebrate her first birthday as a ‘free woman’
A Saudi woman who was granted asylum in Canada after fleeing her homeland to escape her parents has celebrated her first birthday ‘as a free woman’.
Rahaf Mohammed captured global attention in December after she barricaded herself in an airport hotel room in Bangkok in a bid to not be sent home to her family.
The 18-year-old said she was being oppressed by her family and took action to save her life.
She was handed over to the UN refugee agency and resettled to Canada in January.
Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, 18, spent three days at Bangkok airport after being denied entry by Thai immigration officials
Today she took to Twitter to celebrate her birthday, saying: ‘she was born again in this life’ and that it was her ‘first birthday being free’.
In response, people posted messages of support to the Saudi teenager.
Danielle T said: ‘Happy Birthday and more to importantly you independence. Wishing you love & light from #Australia.’
Cameron Riddle said: ‘Happy birthday Rahaf! Enjoy the freedom. Let’s hope more get out of there.’
She spent three days at Bangkok airport after being denied entry by Thai immigration officials.
Rahaf’s family have denied abusing her.
Today she took to Twitter to celebrate her birthday, saying ‘she was born again in this life’ and that it was her ‘first birthday being free’
A new life: Rahaf Mohammed, 18, posted a picture of her breakfast accompanied with bacon and heart-emojis and a Canadian flag, and a cup of Starbucks coffee
Since starting her new life, Rahaf, who has renounced her last name al-Qunun, has posted snaps of her enjoying things that she was forbidden to have in her homeland.
One pic shows her eating Canadian-style bacon for the first time.
She also shared images of red wine and a lit cigarette as she continues to celebrate her freedom and new home.
When Thai authorities eventually allowed Rahaf to enter the country, the UN refugee agency began to seek a home for her.
New life: The knee-length dress the teenager wore at a press conference after seeking asylum in Canada is far from the covering outfits women are required to wear in Saudi Arabia
After being informed that she had been granted asylum in Canada, she said in a press conference: ‘the stress I felt over the last week melted away.’
Ms Mohammed also said in her press conference that she wants to work in support of freedom for women around the world.
‘Today and for years to come, I will work in support of freedom for women around the world,’ she said.
‘The same freedom I experienced on the first day I arrived in Canada.’
She added that her first priority is to learn English.
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