The Missing Princess

Dubai is portrayed as a glittering city and a playground in the Middle East, ruled by Sheikh Mohammed.
Sheikh Mohammed is one of the wealthiest heads of state globally.
Three years prior to the recording, Sheikh Mohammed’s daughter, Latifa, 32 years old, attempted to escape but was captured.
Latifa was captured during her escape attempt, with reports of her screaming and resisting.
Following her disappearance, Latifa began recording video messages describing her situation as a hostage.
Latifa describes herself as enslaved and imprisoned, stating her life is not in her own hands.
She reports being alone in solitary confinement without trial or charges.

Latifa contacted Tina Yahyainan in February, seeking a female capoeira instructor for private lessons.
Tina and Latifa became friends. Tina realized who Latifa was later.
Princess Latifa is one of the 25 children of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai and vice president of The United Arab Emirates.
Tina and Latifa grew closer through skydiving.
Despite her luxury lifestyle, Latifa lacked freedom.
Sheikh Mohammed presents himself as an enlightened monarch, having built a successful city that attracts tourists and businesses.
Behind the facade, there is no tolerance of dissent and an old-fashioned view of women.

Latifa and Tina managed to leave Dubai and board a yacht.
They planned to cross the Indian Ocean and fly to The United States to claim political asylum.
Near India, the escape went wrong.
Gunshots were heard on the upper deck, and the boat was overtaken by Indian special forces.
Latifa was captured, screaming and seeking political asylum.
Tina last saw Latifa being taken away, kicking and screaming.

Sheikh Mohammed continued his social engagements, such as attending races, after the kidnap.
His actions showed a lack of concern for his daughter's situation.
He met with Queen Elizabeth II and faced no questions about the incident.
There is an unjustified deference to Gulf Monarchy and unwillingness to scrutinize events in Dubai.

Nine months after Latifa's disappearance, The UAE responded to the UN with photos of Latifa and Mary Robinson, a former UN Human Rights Commissioner.
Mary Robinson described Latifa as a troubled young woman with a serious medical situation, under the loving care of her family.

A year after Latifa was taken, Tina received contact from a stranger claiming to have a message from Latifa.
Latifa verified her identity through security questions and personal details.
Tina contacted David Hague, and they managed to get a phone to Latifa.
Latifa recorded video messages from a locked bathroom, the only room with a lock.
Tina and David were emotional upon hearing Latifa's voice.
Latifa expressed missing Tina and happiness at hearing her voice.

Latifa recorded videos documenting her imprisonment in a villa converted into a jail.
The villa had barred windows and was guarded by police.
Panorama independently verified the details of her imprisonment near the Dubai Canal.
Her imprisonment was described as psychologically devastating and a form of torture due to prolonged solitary confinement.
She was pale, had limited movement, and lacked basic necessities like new clothes and medical care.
She feared for her safety and life, with threats of lifelong imprisonment.

Latifa described being kidnapped on 03/04/2018 by commandos and Emirati officers.
She was injected with tranquilizers during the struggle.
She was transferred to an Indian military ship and repeated her desire for asylum to generals.
She resisted being taken to a private jet.
She bit an Emirati commando and was tranquilized again, losing consciousness.
She woke up in Dubai and felt her freedom was lost.
She was held in solitary confinement without medical help, trial, or charges.

The UAE faced intense pressure, and Sheikh’s wife Haya became involved.
Haya visited Latifa and claimed she was unaware of her location.
Haya invited Latifa to lunch at her house.
Haya introduced Latifa to Mary Robinson, a former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Haya and Mary Robinson were told that Latifa had a serious bipolar problem.
Mary Robinson did not ask her more directly about her situation.
The lunch was set up to take a photograph, which was later released to the world by The UAE foreign ministry.
Mary Robinson felt tricked when the photographs went public.
Nothing changed for Latifa after Haya's visit.

Haya contacted Mary Robinson, saying she had fled to London with her children due to fear.
Haya claimed she had been misled and discovered a lot of new information.
Sheikh Mohammed continued with business as usual, hosting prominent female leaders.
He pursued Haya through English courts to have his children returned to Dubai.
His treatment of his children was scrutinized in court.
The judge ruled that the sheikh had abducted and imprisoned Latifa and had not been open and honest with the court.
Despite the judgment, Latifa remained a prisoner.

Latifa followed the news, hoping for a change in her situation.
Latifa expressed feeling tired and desperate.
She continued to record videos and exchange messages daily with Tina, David, and Marcus.
Contact was suddenly lost with Latifa, causing great worry.
After several months, it was realized that she was not coming back.
The loss of contact left feelings of sadness and concern for her well-being.

There are concerns that Latifa’s conditions are worse if she was caught with the phone.
Family is expected to support, help, love, and protect, not imprison.
Latifa wanted a quiet, peaceful life away from politics.
The decision was made to release some of the evidence, hoping it would lead to effective action by the UN.
Tina, Marcus, and David hope the UN will be able to take effective action.
The situation is intolerable, and Latifa should be set free.
Latifa's message is that she is not free and does not want to go along with propaganda.