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SYDNEY - A Sydney woman whose mother is languishing in a Kuwaiti jail after a dispute with guards at the country's international airport has
called on the Australian Government to intervene.
Nasrah Alshamery, 43, has been charged with insulting Sheikh Sabah IV
Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah during an argument with security officers at
Kuwait's airport on December 23.
Alshamery's daughter Wasa, 21, said the dispute started when her 12-year-old brother was shouted at by an airport guard. When her
father, Soliman, told the officer to be polite, he was pushed and then punched in the head, she said.
At this point her six brothers became involved and the family was soon
surrounded by 35 guards.
Alshamery said when her mother threatened to seek diplomatic assistance, the security officers laughed and proceeded to insult Australian women, the Australian Government and the nation's soccer team. "[A guard] threw her passport on the ground and he stepped on it and he goes, 'Who's going to help you now? The emu or the kangaroo'?" she said.
Alshamery said the family of nine were then taken to a nearby police
station where her mother and two brothers were jailed.
Alshamery has tried to contact the Australian Government for assistance
but said her pleas had gone unanswered.
"No one is doing anything," she said.
- AAP