An Instagram account believed to be belonging to Latifa al Maktoum, daughter of the ruler of Dubai, has posted a lengthy statement claiming that she is living an independent life. This comes two years after Latifa’s videos, in which she alleged that her family was holding her hostage, went viral. Latifa had attempted to escape the UAE in March 2018 but was allegedly held under house arrest for years. Despite sporadic releases of images claiming that she “lives as she wishes,” doubts have been cast on her freedom. The post, accompanied by a photograph of a well-known Austrian tourist destination, expresses gratitude to those who have shown compassion towards her and clarifies that she is free and living an independent life in Dubai, where she spends most of the year, and can travel. The statement follows the controversial involvement of former Irish President, Mary Robinson, who had dinner with Latifa in Dubai, and Dubai officials’ claim that Latifa was in “the loving care of her family.”
