Tories accused of ‘turning a blind eye’ to plight of Dubai’s captured Princess Latifa

EXCLUSIVE: Despite her family’s claims that she is safe and well in the UAE, campaigners have called out the Government for failing to investigate the welfare of the ‘prisoner’ royal

Chris McLaughlin, The Mirror
March 21, 2021

The Tories have been accused of “turning a blind eye” to the fate of Dubai’s Princess Latifa because her father is an ally of the UK.

When Latifa released secretly recorded video messages last month claiming she was being held against her will after her abduction in 2018, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab described the footage as “deeply disturbing”.

But the House of Lords heard this week the UK had made no diplomatic inquiries about her safety to her father Sheikh Mohammed, leader of Dubai, or the UN.

Latifa, 33, was trying to flee across the Arabian Sea when she was snatched by commandos.

Her capture followed the abduction of her sister Shamsa, 39, who was grabbed in Cambridge 21 years ago and flown to Dubai by private plane.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has been criticised for failing to look in to her case (Image: PA)

Asked by peers what the Government had done about Latifa, Lord Stephen Parkinson admitted: “The UK has no direct involvement in this case.”

Liberal Democrat peer Baroness Shas Sheehan said the UK position was “not good enough”.

And Labour peer Peter Hain asked if we were “turning a blind eye to abuse of women in Dubai because Sheikh Mohammed is a friend and ally with property here”.

The Dubai royals insist Latifa is in good health and is “being looked after by her family”.