https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2022/08/13/saudi-arabia-sisters-australia-denied-asylum-lesbian-atheist/
Two Saudi sisters found dead in Australia sought asylum for religion and sexuality, but their pleas for projection were reportedly rejected over lack of evidence.
Two Saudi sisters found dead in Australia sought asylum for religion and sexuality, but their pleas for projection were reportedly rejected over lack of evidence.
Australian authorities discovered the remains of Asra Abdullah Alsehli, 24, and Amaal Abdullah Alsehli, 23, on 7 June in the Sydney suburb of Burwood. Police found their bodies after carrying out a welfare check as the sisters owed thousands in rent to their landlord.
The women had been dead for more than a month when they were found. Authorities have not been able to ascertain a cause of death or find any signs of forced entry into the apartment.
The sisters fled Saudi Arabia together in 2017 and made their way to Australia, where they made asylum claims.
A source familiar with the application told the Australian one sister applied for the visa on the basis she was a lesbian, 7news reported. The other woman applied for a protection visa on the grounds she was an atheist.
One of the sisters also said she was escaping a forced marriage.
The unnamed source told the Australian that the applications were denied because of a lack of sufficient evidence.
A source familiar with the legal case told ABC’s Background Briefing that Asra and Amaal believed a private investigator was following them.
Their apartment building manager Michael Baird said the sisters were “very, very scared”. But he said the women “didn’t tell” anyone if they were scared of “something or someone”….