Video riddle of Dubai princess solved?
Since Latifa Al Maktoum, daughter of Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Al Maktoum, disappeared on 5 March 2015, millions of people watched the heart breaking appeal by the 33-year old princess that has never been seen since [we reported].
Now we are learning more details about what happened:
India returned runaway Dubai princess to protect strategic interests
Prime Minister Narendra Modi authorised a secret Coast Guard operation to intercept a yacht carrying runaway Dubai royal Latifa Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum after key national security officials advised it was necessary to secure India’s counter-terrorism and strategic interests, highly placed government sources have told Business Standard.
The unprecedented March 4 operation involved three Coast Guard ships, including the state-of-the-art offshore patrol vessels Samarth and Shoor, helicopters and a maritime surveillance aircraft. …
The operation, which the sources said was coordinated by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, led to the rendition of the 33-year-old princess, who has said she was seeking to escape torture inflicted by her father, United Arab Emirates Prime Minister and Dubai ruler Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum.
In an interview to The Helsinki Times, Jauhiaien said “15 men came onboard fully masked, in black clothing, with machine guns and laser sights. It was the most terrifying experience of my life”. In the interview, Jauhiaien said Princess Latifa, whose passport was held by her family, planned to land in Goa and then fly to the United States to seek asylum.
http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/india-returned-runaway-dubai-princess-to-protect-strategic-interests-118042700029_1.html [2]
What happened close to the Indian coast?
Jaubert said the Indian commandos beat him and his crew.
“If you do anything, they are going to vaporise you,” he said.
Indian officials told the AP they had no information about the incident Jaubert described.
Jauhiainen, speaking at a news conference Thursday in London, said Sheikha Latifa kept repeating during the raid: “I am seeking political asylum.”
“At that time I was told to keep my eyes shut, with a threat to be shot if I didn’t comply,” she said. “Then I heard someone speaking Arabic and Latifa said: ‘Shoot me here, just don’t take me back to the UAE’.
“She was taken away kicking and screaming.”
Source: https://www.smh.com.au/world/middle-east/kidnapped-at-sea-what-happened-to-the-daughter-of-dubai-s-ruler-20180417-p4z9zj.html [2]
By now, the story was also reported by The Wire, the UK Telegraph as well as The Times.
I am concerned that “investigative” Guardian, who broke the story about Latifa’s sister Shamsa in 2001, covered the story only in one single article that only presents the perspective of the Dubai government.
Update: On May 7, the Guardian started to report here [backup here].
I am also very worried to find that the New York Times deleted the one article they copied from AP concerning Latifa. [On May 5, the HRW Call to Help Latifa was added. More here]
As a matter of fact, only wide media coverage can force the Dubai ruler to consider the way he is treating his children. Only a public outcry combined with pressure from the US president and leading heads of state can save Latifa’s life.
In case you are a Guardian or New York Times reader, feel free to reach out to these gentlemen.
