The United Nations human rights organization is investigating recently released videos of a daughter of the ruler of Dubai claiming to be “held hostage” – while the UK demanded on Wednesday for evidence that she is still alive.
Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed Al Maktoum, 35, used a phone smuggled to her in her “villa jail” to beg for help in messages released to the BBC after her supporters lost contact about six months ago.
“I am a hostage … I am concerned about my safety and my life,” whispered Latifa, who is believed to be one of approximately 30 children that the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has with numerous wives. .
“I don’t really know if I’m going to survive this situation,” she said in one of the clips broadcast by the BBC’s “Panorama” Tuesday evening.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said it would “raise these new developments with the UAE,” where Sheikh Mohammed, 71, serves as prime minister and vice president.
“Other parts of the UN human rights system with relevant mandates may also become involved if they have analyzed the new material or received specific allegations,” spokesman Rupert Colville told the BBC.
Marcus Essabri, one of Latifa’s cousins living in England, told the BBC that the videos stopped about six months ago and no word had come from Latifa since then.
“I’m afraid they caught her on the phone and now I’m afraid for her safety,” he said.
British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab called the videos “Very poignant” and called for proof that the princess was still alive.
“It’s very disturbing and you can see a young woman in dire need,” Raab told ITV, which supported the UN investigation.
“Given what we’ve just seen, I think people just want to see on a human level that she’s alive and kicking.”
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said his government would follow the probe. “Obviously, that is something we are concerned about, but the UN Commission on Human Rights is looking at that,” he said. ‘I think we’ll see how they get on. We will keep an eye on that. “
Amnesty International called the videos “horrifying” and said it was “extremely concerned about her safety.”
Rodney Dixon, a London-based attorney for Sheikha Latifa, called on Dubai to “do the right thing”.
“Release the princess,” he said.
A support group, Free Latifa, said the princess has been held hostage by her father since she was captured trying to flee Dubai in 2018.
Before Tuesday, the only time she had been seen since she was returned to Dubai was when her family published photos of her meeting with Mary Robinson, a former Irish president and a United Nations high commissioner for human rights, in late 2018.
But Robinson told the BBC she was “terribly deceived” into posing for the photos, and she did not ask Latifa about her plight because she was sure she had a mental illness.
Sheikh Mohammed and the Dubai Royal Court have said Latifa is safe under the loving care of her family. The Dubai Media Office of the UAE government did not respond to a request for comment, The Associated Press said.
With pole wires