"She has no friends," said the mother, adding that her daughter was shaken after the news broke.
The 15-year-old was taken off a British Airways flight before it took off for Saudi Arabia.
The mother said her daughter had complained that she was being cyber bullied by the pupil, who had been very active on social media platforms, according to State Security Minister David Mahlobo.
He told eNCA that the teen had been interacting with strange people and reading material that suggested she was interested in joining the terror group.
A minor to flying abroad
While the girl has now been returned safely to her family, the suspicious circumstances surrounding her attempt to board a plane at Cape Town International Airport destined for Saudi Arabia has begged many questions.
News24 on Monday asked the British Airways reservations office at OR Tambo International what was required for a minor to purchase an international ticket on his or her own.
The first question that came to mind was: does a teenager need a legal guardian to fly abroad?
“No, it doesn’t have to be a legal guardian, just someone responsible,” the reservations officer on the other line said.
“That person would have to sign indemnity forms on behalf of the child, as well as give details of a responsible adult who will collect the minor at the destination.
“They’d then need to pay a fee of US$150.”
When asked if a minor would have to be physically checked in at the airport by a responsible adult, the reservations officer said:
“Yes. A child between the ages of 5 and 12 would need a legal guardian to actually travel with them, but a minor older than that would need a responsible adult to check them in.”
Visa requirements
A visa, according to the reservations officer, would also have to be presented, but would depend on the country of destination, as different countries have varying laws regarding visa requirements.
News24 spoke to Crime Line’s Yusuf Abramjee, one of the people the family approached for help, who confirmed the 15-year-old’s ticket was destined for Saudi Arabia, but could not confirm if the Saudi nation was the flight’s final destination, or just a layover point.
According to the Worldwide Visa Bureau, applicants from all countries require a visa to enter Saudi Arabia, with the exception of a Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the UAE.
Transit passengers, however, do not require a visa, as long as they travel on the same or first connecting flight within 18 hours of landing, and do not leave the airport.
No comments:
Post a Comment