Emirates plane
Emirates planeiStock

Tunisia on Sunday banned the Emirates airline after several Tunisian women were prevented from boarding the airline's flights in Tunis.

According to local media, for several days Tunisian women were not allowed to board Emirates flights to Dubai. Some of the women's trips were delayed, and others' visas were examined.

On their Facebook page, Tunisia's Transport Ministry wrote that they have "decided to suspend flights of Emirates Airlines to and from Tunisia until the company can find a suitable solution to operate its flights in accordance with international laws and treaties."

Government officials said the United Arab Emirates (UAE) banned the entry of Tunisian women.

The ban was lifted Friday, UAE Ambassador to Tunis Salem Issa Elkattam Zeabi told Tunisian officials, explaining that the ban was "temporary" and "relating to security arrangements."

Meanwhile, UAE Foreign Minister Anwar Gargash on Sunday tweeted, "We contacted our Tunisian brothers about security information that necessitated taking specific procedures. We should avoid misleading... We highly value Tunisian women and respect them."

Tunisian human rights groups insisted the ban, even if temporary, was "racist" and "discriminatory."