Saudi asylum-seeker teen in Canada tells of her ordeal
Canada has granted asylum to teen who fled abuse, oppression by her family in Saudi Arabia
By Vakkas Dogantekin
ANKARA
Saudi teenager Rahaf al-
Upon learning the news, 18-year-old al-Qunun dropped her last name and repeated her earlier remarks that she was physically and mentally abused since the age of 16.
In her first talk to the media after her arrival in Canada, al-
"My life was in danger and I felt I had nothing to lose. I wanted to tell people my story and about what happens to Saudi women," Canada's CBS news and Toronto Star on Monday.
Al-
"I was exposed to physical violence, persecution, oppression, threats to be killed.
"I felt that I could not achieve my dreams that I wanted as long as I was still living in Saudi Arabia," she said.
Calling the life in Saudi Arabia daily oppression, al-
Relations between Canada and Saudi Arabia are already toxic.
In August 2018, Saudi Arabia expelled Canada's ambassador and withdrew its own ambassador when Canada's Foreign Ministry denounced the jailing of activists in Saudi Arabia.
The Saudis sold their investments in Canada, suspended trade deals and ordered their citizens studying in Canada to leave.
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