UN issues series of demands to UAE as Cambridgeshire police request Free Latifa campaign provide copies of new evidence concerning UAE's earlier kidnap of Princess Shamsa

LONDON: 20 April 2021

The Free Latifa campaign welcomes today’s demand from the United Nations that the UAE immediately release hostage Dubai Princess Sheikha Latifa Al Maktoum, daughter of the ruler of Dubai.

A statement issued today by human rights experts at the UN demanded the UAE provide “Evidence of life and assurances regarding her well-being are urgently required" and “independent verification of the conditions under which she is being held”,and “her immediate release.”[1]

David Haigh, a human rights lawyer and co-founder of the Free Latifa campaign, said: “We welcome the actions of the United Nations today in calling on Dubai to immediately release Sheikha Latifa. The eyes of the world must now be firmly fixed on the UAE, Latifa’s father Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the prime minister of the UAE and the Abu Dhabi crown prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

“If the UAE do not release Latifa, then the international community must take action against Dubai. We confirm that Rodney Dixon QC and our legal team will be applying to the Foreign Office for sanctions to be implemented against those responsible for the continued and grave abuses of Latifa’s human rights, including her father, the Dubai ruler. Similar sanction requests will also be made in the EU and the United States.”

Princess Latifa’s lawyer Rodney Dixon QC said: “The UN has made clear that a full verifiable answer is required from the UAE authorities without any further delay. The only way to know that Princess Latifa is safe is for her to be released immediately.”

Tiina Jauhiainen the best friend of Princess Latifa who was kidnapped by the UAE alongside Latifa added: “The last time we heard from Latifa was almost a year ago and not having any news about her is devastating.  It’s time that world leaders and the international community support the call of the UN for Latifa’s immediate release.”
 
The Free Latifa campaign and Latifa’s legal team first submitted a complaint to the United Nations in March 2018 and assisted with the United Nations investigation. During the 3 year United Nations investigation, considerable evidence of the abuses of Latifa’s human rights have been provided.  The campaign team has visited the United Nations on numerous occasions to give oral and documentary evidence. In February, David Haigh, Tiina Jauhiainen, Rodney Dixon QC and Latifa’s cousin Marcus Essabri took part in a video call where unedited videos from Princess Latifa discussing the abuse of her and the perpetrators of it was played.

The United Nations demand comes as the Cambridgeshire police contacted Free Latifa co-founder David Haigh to request the evidence held on the kidnap of Latifa’s sister Sheikha Shamsa from Cambridge.

[1] Full UN Statement here.