Saudi woman ends Thai airport hotel standoff, placed 'under the care' of UN refugee agency

The Saudi woman who made a desperate plea for asylum after landing at Bangkok airport has been placed "under the care" of the United Nations refugee agency.

The Saudi teen was stopped at the airport as she was traveling to Australia for asylum. Source: EPA

Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun told AFP she ran away from her family while travelling in Kuwait because they subjected her to physical and psychological abuse.

The 18-year-old said she had planned to seek asylum in Australia and feared she would be killed if repatriated by Thai immigration officials who stopped her during transit on Sunday.

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