In recent years, several female members of the royal family in the Emirates have tried to flee Sheikh Muhammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s regime. He is the Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates and the Emir (Head of State) of Dubai.
In 2018, one of his daughters, Princess Latifa bint Mohammed Al Maktoum, stopped by armed men after a painstakingly planned escape.
After living for 32 years under her father’s authoritarian regime, she tried to flee to France – with the help of a French spy and a Finnish martial arts instructor.
The escape attempt failed. The boat was hijacked and Latifa was captured.
According to BBCs documentary series «Panorama», the princess has sent secret video messages to friends. But then the messages ended.
In February, the friends asked the UN to intervene, and in April this year The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) sounded the alarm, and asked the United Arab Emirates for proof that Princess Latifa is alive.
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Pictured at the mall
Now she has appeared in a new photo, published on Instagram on Thursday this week, reports BBC.
The photos show the princess in what appears to be a shopping mall in Dubai, along with two other women. Below the picture is written “nice afternoon at MoE with friends”. MoE is an abbreviation for Mall of the Emirates.
The image does not contain metadata, which shows the time when the image was taken. Neither of the two women pictured has responded to the BBC’s inquiries about Latifa’s health.
The UN fears for the life of the princess
The BBC has not been able to verify the pictures, but has been in contact with Latifa’s friend, who confirms that it is the princess who is pictured.
David Haigh, co-founder of the organization “Free Latifa”, says in a statement:
– We confirm that there has been a potentially significant and positive development in the case. We do not wish to comment further on this at this stage. A statement will be issued at the right time.
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– Hostage
The United Arab Emirates has previously stated that Latifa lives safely and voluntarily with her family. They have also claimed that Latifa never tried to flee, and that she was instead kidnapped.
A video recorded by Latifa himself in advance of the escape attempt tells a completely different story.
– My father is the most vicious man I have met in my entire life. He is pure evil. There is nothing good about him, Latifa said in the video.
– I’m a hostage
She has since claimed that she is being held hostage in “a villa converted into a prison”. She claims that she is not allowed to go out to breathe fresh air, and has stated in the videos that she fears for her own safety.
– If you assume that the picture is real, it is proof of life. That is something, but it says nothing about her freedom, says Kenneth Roth in Human Rights Watch to the BBC.
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