Princess Latifa of Dubai, daughter of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is being held captive without access to medical or legal help, reported BBC. In 2018, she attempted to flee from her family but was caught by Emirati commandos on the coast in India. The yacht they were sailing in was intercepted and stopped. According to the BBC report, Latifa thrashed and struggled against the guards but was drugged and taken into captivity in a vila. 

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In a video shared by BBC Panorama, Princess Latifa is seen saying she is being held hostage and fears for her life. 

She recorded these videos in a bathroom in the villa, the only place she was allowed to lock the door. The princess can be seen talking about her captivity and how she is not allowed to even step out of the villa/house to get some fresh air. She filmed these videos on a phone secretly given to her a year after she was forced back in Dubai and sent these secret messages to her friends. 

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Her friend Tiina Jauhiainen, who helped her in her escape from Dubai, said the videos have now stopped coming. Her friends are now urging the UN to step in and look into the matter fearing for her wellbeing. 

Both Dubai and UAE have previously said that princess Latifa is in the loving care of her family. 

“I continue to be very worried about Latifa. Things have moved on. And so I think it should be investigated,” said the former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and president of Ireland. 

Mary Robinson, Ex-UN rights envoy, described Latifa as a “troubled young woman” after meeting her in 2018. She now says she was “horribly tricked” by the princesses family. 

Tiina Jauhiainen, her maternal cousin Marcus Essabri and campaigner David Haigh are behind the ‘Free Latifa campaign’. As per the group, they finally released the video fearing for Latifa’s safety. They were responsible for establishing contact with Latifa when she was being held against her will.