(BANGKOK) — A Saudi woman who fled alleged abuse by her family left Bangkok on Friday night to fly to Canada to take up an offer of asylum, Thailand’s immigration police chief said.
Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun, 18, took a flight to Seoul, South Korea, with a final destination of Toronto, said Police Chief Surachate Hakparn.
Several countries, including Canada and Australia, had been in talks with the U.N.’s refugee agency to accept Alqunun, he said earlier in the day.
Canada’s ambassador had seen her off at the airport, Surachate said, adding that she looked happy and healthy.
“She chose Canada. It’s her personal decision,” he said.
She thanked everyone for helping her, he said, and added that the first thing she would do upon arrival in Canada would be to start learning the language. She already speaks more than passable English in addition to Arabic.
A spokesman for Canada’s foreign minister did not immediately confirm she was headed to Canada.
Alqunun’s case has highlighted the ca..