The UN said it had asked the United Arab Emirates for proof of the life of Princess Latifa, the daughter of the ruler of Dubai, who says she is being held "hostage" and fears for her life in videos released this week by British media .

During a press briefing, organized on Friday February 19, a spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Liz Throssell, said that her case had been raised the day before with the permanent mission of the Emirates in Geneva.

"We have expressed our concerns about the situation, in light of disturbing videos that have surfaced this week. We have requested more information and clarification on [Princess Latifa's] current situation," he said. -she indicated.

And, she assured: "we asked for proof of life".

In addition, insists the spokesperson, given the "serious concerns" about the fate of Princess Latifa, "we have asked that the government make its response a priority."

The 35-year-old princess, daughter of Mohammed ben Rached al-Maktoum, ruler of the Emirate of Dubai and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, had unsuccessfully attempted to escape by boat from this Gulf city-state in 2018, before being brought back there.

Her relatives have transmitted videos in which the thirty-something says she is locked in a "villa transformed into a prison" with windows blocked off and guarded by police.

They say they haven't heard from her anymore.

On February 17, it was the head of British diplomacy who requested proof of the life of the daughter of the sovereign of Dubai.

"People would like […] to see her alive and well, {…] and we would certainly be happy about that," Dominic Raab told Sky News.

This case "concerns us", British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told reporters, "but the United Nations Commission on Human Rights is looking into it and what we are going to do is wait to see how they go ".

With AFP

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