Friday 5 August 2022 06:31 AM Saudi sisters Asra and Amaal Aslehli feared persecution for sexuality, new ... trends now
A new theory has emerged two Saudi sisters found dead could have feared persecution for their sexuality after it was revealed they attended a queer event.
Asra Abdullah Alsehli, 24, and Amaal, 23, were discovered in their Canterbury unit in Sydney's southwest on June 7.
Detectives have yet to determine the cause of their death months later and are chasing several leads.
A woman, who wished to remain anonymous, said she met the sisters at a girls-only queer event in January, The Guardian reported.
She claimed police believe one of the sisters identified as queer and are unsure of the sexual orientation of the other one.
The woman described the sisters as 'shy' and said they were reluctant to talk more about their personal lives in Saudi Arabia.
Two Saudi sisters found dead in their beds could have feared persecution for their sexuality after it was revealed they attended a queer event (pictured, Amaal Abdullah Alsehli)
Asra Abdullah Alsehli, 24 (pictured), and Amaal, 23, were discovered in their Canterbury unit in Sydney's south-west on June 7
'They mentioned that they were from Saudi Arabia, and we talked about what it is like to be queer there,' she said.
'They said women live in fear of their safety and that they were grateful to be living in Australia, where they could more freely express themselves.'
'What's terribly sad is they told me they were excited to be out at an event like this and that they were ready to start exploring more of Sydney.'
The woman said she contacted police after recognising photos of the sisters that were released by police following the discovery of their bodies.
NSW Police refused to comment when approached by Daily Mail Australia.
'As the investigation is ongoing, police continue to appeal for information in relation to the death of the two women,' a spokesperson said.
'No further information is available at this stage.'
It's believed the women had been dead for up to six weeks before police made the grim discovery of their decomposing bodies.
Bottles of chemicals such as bleach and other substances were found beside their bodies in separate bedrooms, leading detectives to suspect the pair planned to take their own lives.
Interim toxicology results showed traces of the substances found in the bedrooms inside the women's bodies.
'There's no indication of anyone else being in the unit...no forced entry. It really does appear to be a tragic suicide,' a police source told The Daily Telegraph.
More extensive testing is needed to determine the exact cause of death.
A NSW Police spokeswoman was unable to comment or confirm the new revelations.
'It will be up to the Coroner to determine the cause of death,' she told Daily Mail Australia.
Bottles of chemicals such as bleach and other substances were found beside their bodies found in separate bedrooms, leading detectives to suspect the pair planned to take their own lives
Two months on from their deaths, police still have very few details about the two sisters who fled Saudi Arabia and arrived in Australia with $5,000 savings five years ago.
This is despite an extensive week-long public appeal and releasing the names and photos of the sisters at the request of the coroner.
It's also been revealed a black BMW coupe was seized after the women's bodies were found remains in a police holding yard.
The car is expected to be sold to recover debts owed to the women's landlord after they stopped paying rent ten weeks before their fully clothed but decomposing bodies were found.
A letter sent on behalf of the landlord, exclusively obtained by Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday shows that the sisters racked up a $5,142.86 debt by May 13 - almost a month before their bodies were found, on June 7.
The sisters also owed $26.18 in outstanding water bills.
Their remains were uncovered in separate rooms of their $480-per-week Canterbury apartment by police during the last of three welfare checks.
The first check was conducted in mid-March - around the same time they stopped paying rent - after the property's building manager raised concerns for their wellbeing because the food was left out in common areas.
A black BMW coupe seized from the Canterbury unit is expected to be sold to repay the women's landlord after they stopped paying rent 10 weeks before their bodies were found
Attending officers said the woman appeared fine, and left the unit.
The second check was done between March and June, before their bodies were found during the final visit.
By the time the NSW Civil & Administrative Tribunal scheduled a hearing to address the rental debt on May 13, they were likely dead.
Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting the landlord was in any way responsible for the sisters' deaths.
According to the letter addressed to Amaal from the Tribunal on May 13, the women did not attend the hearing and were subsequently ordered to pay any amount
