BBC has released videos in a new programme featuring Dubai’s missing Princess Latifa.
Latifa is one of Dubai’s leader and UAE President Sheikh Mohammed's 25 children. In February 2018, she attempted to escape Dubai due to her lack of freedom. She was prevented when crossing the Indian Ocean with her friend Tiina Jauhiainen by the Indian special forces. She was then taken back to Dubai after repeatedly trying to tell them she was seeking asylum.
Jauhiainen and David Haigh, who co-founded the Free Latifa campaign, managed to give Latifa a phone. In videos she sent to them, she details the barred windows and the police in and out of the house preventing her from leaving. Latifa is in solitary confinement, trapped in a villa in Dubai.
The UN, after Jauhiainen and Haigh formed the campaign, began an investigation. Mary Robinson, previous Irish President, visited UAE in 2018 and was photographed with Latifa there. She since describes being tricked into believing that Latifa had Bipolar disorder and, not wanting to increase her trauma further, didn’t ask her questions of her situation. She said that Latifa was in the care of her family. The photo was used as evidence by UAE as evidence that Latifa was alive.
The campaign leaders remained in contact with Latifa, who spoke of her situation “getting more desperate everyday”. One day, their messages were no longer delivered to her phone. Since then, they have not heard from Latifa and released the videos.
The UN will question the UAE over the videos.
Written by Anna Male
Artwork by Delicia
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