TORONTO – An 18-year-old Saudi woman who fled her family this week saying she feared for her life arrived in Toronto’s international airport on Saturday (Jan 12) after being granted asylum in Canada, where Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland welcomed her as a brave new Canadian.
Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun grabbed international attention this week after she barricaded herself in a Bangkok airport hotel room to resist being sent home to her family, which denies any abuse.
Qunun refused to meet her father and brother, who arrived in Bangkok to try to take her back to Saudi Arabia.
Qunun arrived at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport on Saturday morning, wearing a hoodie emblazoned with the word Canada in red, and a blue cap with the logo of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which has granted her refugee status.
In her last tweet before leaving for Toronto, Qunun said, “I did it,” and posted pictures from inside an aeroplane.
Freeland, who received Qunun at the airport, told reporters that Qunun is “a very brave new Canadian”.
“Rahaf wanted Canadians to see that she has arrived at her new home,” Freeland told reporters.
https://twitter.com/rahaf84427714/status/1083842495241318401
“But she had a very long and tiring journey and so would prefer not to take questions today. And she is now going to go to her new home.”
A smiling Qunun waved to reporters as she walked out into the international arrivals area but did not speak to the media.
After a brief appearance, she was taken back into the airport terminal.
Saudi Teen’s Brave Leap to Canada: A Story of Hope and International Drama
Rahaf Mohammed al‑Qunun, a 20‑year‑old from Riyadh, has just landed in Toronto with Canadian asylum in hand. Her journey sparked a whirlwind of media attention and diplomatic tension between Ottawa and Riyadh.
Why Canada? Not Australia
- Initial plan: Seek refuge in Australia.
- Reality check: Australian officials took ages to decide.
- “Australia takes too long,” Rahaf told Reuters before boarding.
- Result: She pivoted to Canada, which promised a faster review.
Touch‑and‑Go Flights
Her air‑travel saga began in Bangkok, then to Seoul via Korean Air, before finally connecting to Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. Despite being denied entry upon arrival, she didn’t miss a beat.
<h3 #SaveRahaf the Twitter Rally
While stuck in Bangkok’s transit zone, Rahaf posted frantic tweets that read, “escaped Kuwait… my life is in danger if I have to go back to Saudi Arabia.” The buzz turned into a global campaign, the hashtag #SaveRahaf blooming across social media platforms.
A 48‑Hour Stand‑Off
- Rahaf barricaded herself in a hotel room during the airport standoff.
- After two days, Canadian authorities opened the gate.
- She was processed as a refugee through the UNHCR.
Wider Implications
Rahaf’s case shines a spotlight on Saudi Arabia’s strict social mandates—especially the rule that women need a male “guardian” to travel. Rights groups say this can trap families in abusive dynamics.
Diplomatic Aftermath
Canada’s asylum grant added another knot to the already tense relations with Riyadh, which had responded to Canada’s demand for the release of jailed activists by freezing new trade deals.
In short, Rahaf’s daring flight to freedom not only broke the silence around Saudi travel restrictions but also sparked a diplomatic firefight that reverberated beyond the globe.
