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dpa
Cairo
A princess reportedly held against her will by her father, the ruler of Dubai, for more than three years reportedly showed up in Spain on vacation, leading to new speculation about her fate.
The photo, posted late on Sunday on Instagram, is said to show the 35-year-old Princess Latifa alongside a teacher named Sioned Taylor.
A Madrid airport terminal is said to be seen in the background.
“Great European holiday with Latifa. We are having fun exploring!” Taylor wrote by the photo with a laughing smiley face emoji. Both are wearing face masks.
Latifa is the daughter of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktum, emir of Dubai and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Human rights activists expressed concern after she attempted an escape from Dubai in 2018, apparently due to lack of freedoms at home. Latifa was reportedly stopped and forcibly returned to Dubai.
In video messages, the princess said she was being detained in a villa as if she were in prison. Dubai’s ruling family, on the other hand, said Latifa was being cared for by her family and medical staff.
There was initially no independent confirmation that Latifa was indeed in the photo.
If Latifa has indeed flown to Spain, this would be a positive development, according to her supporters. She apparently has a passport, can travel and enjoys an increasing degree of freedom, the Free Latifa campaign announced in London on Monday.
However, these freedoms are not yet guaranteed. In an unusual move, the campaign also announced that it was suspending its activities to fight for Latifa’s freedom for the time being. A spokesperson did not comment further when asked by dpa.
Earlier this year, UN human rights experts demanded proof of life and clear information on Latifa’s whereabouts, as her fate has attracted international attention.
An older sister of Latifa’s was abducted from Cambridge in 2000 and taken to Dubai after she tried to abscond. A British court had held Sheikh Mohammed responsible for the abduction of his two daughters and intimidation of a wife as part of divorce proceedings.
Among others, the UN Human Rights Office had demanded a meeting with Latifa - to no avail. Independent human rights rapporteurs have warned that Latifa is being held without contact with the outside world and that this could have harmful physical and psychological consequences.
Cairo
A princess reportedly held against her will by her father, the ruler of Dubai, for more than three years reportedly showed up in Spain on vacation, leading to new speculation about her fate.
The photo, posted late on Sunday on Instagram, is said to show the 35-year-old Princess Latifa alongside a teacher named Sioned Taylor.
A Madrid airport terminal is said to be seen in the background.
“Great European holiday with Latifa. We are having fun exploring!” Taylor wrote by the photo with a laughing smiley face emoji. Both are wearing face masks.
Latifa is the daughter of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktum, emir of Dubai and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Human rights activists expressed concern after she attempted an escape from Dubai in 2018, apparently due to lack of freedoms at home. Latifa was reportedly stopped and forcibly returned to Dubai.
In video messages, the princess said she was being detained in a villa as if she were in prison. Dubai’s ruling family, on the other hand, said Latifa was being cared for by her family and medical staff.
There was initially no independent confirmation that Latifa was indeed in the photo.
If Latifa has indeed flown to Spain, this would be a positive development, according to her supporters. She apparently has a passport, can travel and enjoys an increasing degree of freedom, the Free Latifa campaign announced in London on Monday.
However, these freedoms are not yet guaranteed. In an unusual move, the campaign also announced that it was suspending its activities to fight for Latifa’s freedom for the time being. A spokesperson did not comment further when asked by dpa.
Earlier this year, UN human rights experts demanded proof of life and clear information on Latifa’s whereabouts, as her fate has attracted international attention.
An older sister of Latifa’s was abducted from Cambridge in 2000 and taken to Dubai after she tried to abscond. A British court had held Sheikh Mohammed responsible for the abduction of his two daughters and intimidation of a wife as part of divorce proceedings.
Among others, the UN Human Rights Office had demanded a meeting with Latifa - to no avail. Independent human rights rapporteurs have warned that Latifa is being held without contact with the outside world and that this could have harmful physical and psychological consequences.
