Princess Latifa says she “is living as she wishes”, as a photo of her meeting the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights is released.
The image and statement come almost exactly one year on from the publication of s in which she claimed her family was holding her hostage in Dubai.
This is the first photo to show Princess Latifa, the daughter of the billionaire ruler of Dubai, with an official rather than with friends or family since the release of her testimony.
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What happened to Princess Latifa?
It shows a smartly-dressed Latifa in Paris smiling alongside Michelle Bachelet, the UN’s human rights chief.
A statement has been proed to Sky News on behalf of Princess Latifa.
The statement says: “Sheikha Latifa would like to state that she had a lengthy, positive and private meeting in Paris with the High Commissioner to assert her right to a private life, following persistent media speculation about her.
“Latifa would like to make clear that she is living as she wishes, that she is travelling as she wishes, that she is perfectly well and that she would like the media to allow her to live in peace.”
A tweet was sent from the UN Humans Rights Twitter account posted the image, saying that Ms Bachelet “has met Dubai’s Sheikha Latifa, at [the] latter’s request, in Paris”.
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Latifa was first pictured after her s were published in this image taken in Dubai in May last year. Pic: Instagram/ lyndabouchikhi
“After introduction with Latifa’s legal adviser, the High Commissioner and Latifa met in private. Latifa conveyed to the High Commissioner that she was well and expressed her wish for respect for her privacy.”
On 17 February last year, secret messages passed to Sky News were published. In them, the princess claimed her father was holding her hostage.
.@mbachelet has met Dubai’s Sheikha Latifa, at latter’s request, in Paris. After introduction with Latifa’s legal advisor, the High Commissioner & Latifa met in private. Latifa conveyed to the High Commissioner that she was well & expressed her wish for respect for her privacy. pic.twitter.com/2VxLwVAMe0
— UN Human Rights (@UNHumanRights) February 18, 2022
After the s, the UN and world leaders expressed concern for the princess.
In May 2021, a photo was posted to social media showing Princess Latifa in public for the first time since her s were released. More photos were shared on social media over the following months.
This included a photo in August 2021 showing her in Iceland with a woman and her cousin, Marcus Essabri.
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An image shows Latifa (left) with her cousin Marcus Essabri and long-term friend Sioned Taylor. Pic: Instagram/ @shinnybryn
Supporters of the 36-year-old royal expressed concerns over the nature of the images and whether she was truly free.
The photos showed Princess Latifa wearing casual clothes, with little or no make-up, her hair pulled back and a neutral facial expression.
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Photos of Princess Latifa were shared on social media after her s were published
In contrast, the image released on Friday shows the princess’ hair has been styled and she has make-up on.
She is wearing a blazer, shiny boots and simple jewellery as she poses on the Parisian street looking directly at the camera.
Despite these differences, some remain cautions.
Ken Roth, the executive director for Human Rights Watch, told Sky News he has “no idea how free Latifa would have felt to talk” to the UN chief, and speculated over whether she may have been pressured to take part.
He said: “This is obviously out of character with the feisty woman conveyed in the s. The question is what made her seem to change so dramatically.”
Da Haigh co-founded the Free Latifa group, an organisation which campaigned for the Dubai royal’s freedom until the group wound down after Latifa was pictured alongside her cousin.
Mr Haigh told Sky News: “I am pleased to see the news from the United Nations that it’s High Commissioner for Human Rights Michele Bachelet has recently met with Princess Latifa in Paris.”
He added: “It was [in] April 2021 that the United Nations sought undertakings from Dubai concerning Latifa’s safety and well-being, following Sky News breaking the news of shocking footage from Latifa… I hope now that Dubai and the wider UAE will start to respect, promote and protect the human rights all all its citizens and expats.”
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The photo taken with the UN Human Rights chief appears to have been taken on Boulevard Haussmann. Pic: Google Maps
Sky News has geolocated the photo and has confirmed it was taken on Boulevard Haussmann in central Paris.
It is possible to spot both the distinctive green railings and the red awning behind them in an image from Google Street View.
Latifa tried to escape from her family in March 2018 by attempting to sail across the Indian Ocean, but she was brought back to Dubai in what the royal family said was a rescue mission.
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Princess Latifa is the daughter of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum
In secret s released to Sky News, Latifa said that she was a “hostage” and had been beaten, drugged and imprisoned then locked away under armed guard in a royal villa.
Her family have always strenuously denied any wrongdoing.
The sheikh, who is also the prime minister of the UAE, says Latifa was tricked into escaping by criminals who wanted money and that returning her to Dubai was a rescue mission.
He has said the princess is safe and well, and that they want to maintain her privacy.
