Abduction of daughters, torture and threats to life: the scandalous outcome of the case of the escaped Princess Haya

Eight months after the sensational escape of Princess Haya from the UAE and a series of court sessions, the Supreme Court of Britain has finally issued a final decision on the most discussed case of recent times.

In June 2019, an unexpected thing happened in the exemplary family of the Emir of Dubai, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum: his wife, Princess Haya Bint al-Hussein, took the children and secretly ran away from her husband, simultaneously asking other states for protection and warning her loved ones that she feared for her own life. Apparently, the decision was really dictated by fear.

Princess Haya with lawyer Baroness Fiona Shackleton in front of the Supreme Court, February 28, 2020

Haya learned about some frightening details related to the disappearance of her husband's daughter from another marriage — Princess Latifa. The girl's escape and forced return were widely covered by the press (including in a BBC documentary), but there is still no reliable information about her fate.

After fleeing from the East, the emir's wife reached the UK, where she sought the help of lawyer Fiona Shackleton, who was engaged in royal divorce proceedings: she has the divorce of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, as well as Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson. Custody of the couple's two children was at stake.

Princess Haya and Fiona Shackleton outside the Supreme Court, February 26, 2020

The emir accused his wife of kidnapping them and hired a star lawyer, Helen Ward, who worked on the divorce of Guy Ritchie and Madonna. The press prepared for a battle that promised losses on both sides. The litigation began eight months ago.

At the end of February, the last sitting of the Supreme Court of Great Britain on the scandalous case took place. Official representatives have published a decision in favor of Princess Haya. Abduction, forced return, torture and intimidation — the accusations against Sheikh Mohammed, voiced by his wife, were confirmed by a British court and documented in a series of decisions in the couple's case.

Recall that in 2000, Sheikha Shams flew to the family's British estate in Surrey, but was later abducted by the sheikh's agents in Cambridgeshire. Presumably, Mohammed's daughter was forcibly sedated to take her to Dubai, where the girl was held captive.

Cambridgeshire Police's request to visit Dubai to investigate her abduction has been rejected. Sheikha Latifa also tried to flee the country, having made two unsuccessful attempts — in 2002 and 2018. After the first one, she was imprisoned by her father in Dubai, where she spent more than three years. The second time she was found in the sea off the Indian coast. The girl was forcibly returned to Dubai and placed under house arrest.

Princess Haya and Baroness Fiona Shackleton arrive at court, November 13, 2019

The judge ruled that Sheikh Mohammed "continues to support the regime under which both young women are deprived of their liberty." In the family, this was explained as the "rescue" of the princesses, who are now supposedly safe with their family. At first, Haya believed the official version, but at the beginning of 2019, the woman had doubts. At the same time, she was suspected of having an affair with a British bodyguard.

During the trial, it was witnessed how the sheikh used his media connections to create a series of negative articles about his runaway wife, many of which were far from the truth. In addition, Haya's statements about threats to her life coming from the emir were confirmed.The emir and a team of lawyers hired by him unsuccessfully tried to hide the court's decision from the public, but the court decided that the publication of these materials directly meets the public interest, and rejected the appeal of the ruler of Dubai. It was found that Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum "was not open and honest with the court."

The Sheikh is an influential figure in the Middle East, he was responsible for turning the Emirate of Dubai into a popular tourist, entertainment and business destination. The head of Dubai has been repeatedly depicted next to Queen Elizabeth, but neither the money nor the influence of the emir helped him this time.