UN qualifies Saudi woman as refugee

The UN on Wednesday qualified a Saudi woman for asylum in Australia.

In a statement to NPR, Australia's Department of Homeland Security said: "The UNHCR has referred Ms Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun to Australia for consideration for refugee resettlement."

Australia had said on Tuesday it would consider granting her refugee status if the UN qualified her as a refugee.

Al-Qunun fled her family last Monday fearing persecution after she denounced Islam. She drew global attention after she went public on threats to her life on Twitter.

Officials in Bangkok International Airport have allowed her to stay in Thailand, where she was later placed under the protection of the UN Refugee Agency. She was trying to fly to Australia through Thailand.

Al-Qunun also rejected to see her father and brother who flew to Bangkok, according to media reports.