A young Saudi woman who fled her allegedly abusive family and drew renewed attention to the plight of women in the conservative kingdom has arrived in Toronto after being granted asylum by Canada.

An 18-year-old Saudi woman who was stopped in Bangkok as she was trying to travel to Australia for asylum to escape alleged abuse by her family has left her airport hotel room for temporary admission into Thailand.

Rahaf Al-Qunun said she fears her family will kill her if she is forcibly returned to Saudi Arabia.