BANGKOK: A Saudi woman held at Bangkok airport said she would be killed ifshe was repatriated by Thai immigration officials, who confirmed the18-year-old was denied entry to the country on Sunday.

Rahaf Mohammed M Alqunun told *AFP* she was stopped by Saudi and Kuwaitiofficials when she arrived in Suvarnabhumi airport and her travel documentwas forcibly taken from her, a claim backed by Human Rights Watch.

“They took my passport,” she told *AFP*, adding that her male guardian hadreported her for travelling “without his permission”.

Rahaf said she was trying to flee her family, who subjected her to physicaland psychological abuse.

“My family is strict and locked me in a room for six months just forcutting my hair,” she said, adding that she is certain she will beimprisoned if she is sent back.

“I’m sure 100 per cent they will kill me as soon as I get out of the Saudijail,” she said, adding that she was “scared” and “losing hope”.

Rahaf was stopped from entering Thailand when she flew in from Kuwait onSunday, Thailand’s immigration chief Surachate Hakparn told *AFP*.

“She had no further documents such as return ticket or money,” he said,adding that Rahaf was currently in an airport hotel.

“She ran away from her family to avoid marriage and she is concerned shemay be in trouble returning to Saudi Arabia. We sent officials to take careof her now,” he said.

He added that Thai authorities had contacted the “Saudi Arabia embassy tocoordinate”.

But Rahaf disputed her account, saying that she was in transit to seekasylum in Australia, where she claimed to have a visa, and was accosted bySaudi and Kuwaiti embassy representatives when she deplaned in Suvarnabhumiairport.

Human Rights Watch Asia deputy director Phil Robertson decried the actionsof the Thai authorities.

“What country allows diplomats to wander around the closed section of theairport and seize the passports of the passengers?” he said, adding thatthere is “impunity” within the family unit in Saudi Arabia to abuse women.

Immigration head Surachate said Rahaf would be sent back to Saudi Arabia byMonday morning.

“It’s a family problem,” he said of the case.

Another Saudi woman, Dina Ali Lasloom, was stopped in transit in thePhilippines in April 2017 when she attempted to flee her family.

An airline security official told activists that Lasloom was heard“screaming and begging for help” as men carried her “with duct tape on hermouth, feet and hands” at the airport.

The Saudi embassy in Thailand and officials in Riyadh could not be reachedfor immediate comment. – APP/AFP