#where is Noof ??

Qatari citizen Noof al-Maadeed, 23, was last heard of on October 13 when she spoke of receiving threats. Fears have since grown for her safety, with some reports last week suggesting she had been murdered.

In her last social media post before she disappeared, Noof said: 'If you do not see any posts from me in the coming days, that means I have been handed over to my family against my will.'

Earlier, she said three attempts had been made to kill her, adding that the authoritarian state's ruler was the 'only one who can stop the danger to my life'.

Noof fled to the UK in 2019 but returned home in October after the Qatar authorities apparently gave assurances she would be safe.

Her case – which highlights discrimination facing women in the Gulf state – became a cause celebre two years ago when a video documenting her journey to Britain went viral.

It focused attention on Qatar's male guardianship system in which women are dependent on men for permission to marry, travel, pursue higher education and access reproductive healthcare.

In March, Noof appeared on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour, claiming she suffered constant 'physical and emotional abuse' at the hands of 'some of my family members'. She said her freedom of movement was also restricted.

Her decision to return to Qatar took many by surprise. In a video, she said: 'I had a normal life in the UK, until that day when I felt I did not belong there, and that I wanted to live in my home country, but there were many difficulties, fears and dangers if I wanted to go back to my country.'

Rights organizations have repeatedly called on the Qatari authorities to ensure Noof al-Maadeed is not in any form of detention; to allow her access to the outside world, including her phone; and to support her decisions to live an independent life.