Saudi woman 'given refugee status'

"My family threatens to kill me for the most trivial things," Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun said. /AGENCIES
"My family threatens to kill me for the most trivial things," Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun said. /AGENCIES

A Saudi woman who fled her family and refused to leave a Bangkok hotel has been given refugee status by UN, the Australian government says.

Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, 18, refused to board a flight from Bangkok to Kuwait on Monday and barricaded herself into her airport hotel room.

She said she feared her family would kill her for renouncing Islam.

The UN's refugee agency has referred her case to Australia for possible resettlement.

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