UNHCR asks Australia to consider refugee resettlement for Saudi teen

The United Nations has asked Australia to consider refugee resettlement for an 18-year-old Saudi woman who fled to Thailand saying she feared her family would kill her, the Australian government said on Wednesday. The teenager, Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, arrived in Bangkok on the weekend appealing for asylum.

Australia said it would consider resettling her if the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) deemed her a refugee. "The UNHCR has referred Ms Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun to Australia for consideration for refugee resettlement," Australia's Department of Homeland Security said in an email.

(With inputs from agencies.)