Princess Latifa al Maktoum of Dubai, daughter of the Emir of Dubai, has been missing since a failed escape attempt in 2018. However, leaked videos show that she has had secret contact with her friend Tiina Jauhiainen for several years.
In the clips, recorded on a smuggled mobile phone, Latifa says that she is locked in a villa - and that she fears for her life.
- I'm being held hostage.
The villa has been turned into a prison, she says in one of the clips.
Tiina, Latifa's close friend and former personal trainer, tells SVT Nyheter that she, together with the organization Free Latifa, published the videos after the princess stopped responding.
- What if Latifa was caught red-handed with the phone?
Maybe she's even worse now, she says.
Hope the UN puts pressure
The UN has said it will question the authorities in the United Arab Emirates about the princess, something that pleases Tiina.
- I was so happy to wake up to this news today, she says.
- I hope that UN Human Rights Director Michelle Bachelet can put pressure on Dubai to release Latifa.
"Many sleepless nights"
Tiina emphasizes that it was not planned to release the videos.
- It was not an easy decision to make, and I have had many sleepless nights and been very nervous.
She believes that the clips show that the authorities in Dubai have lied about the princess' well-being.
- They have said that Latifa is fine, and that is not true at all, says Tiina.
"Extremely brave"
Even though it was over six months since Tiina last had contact with Latifa, she does not think the princess is dead.
- I think she is still alive, she says, and continues:
- Latifa is extremely brave.
I miss her very much.
The United Arab Emirates has not commented on the leaked videos.
The country's authorities have previously said that the princess is well and is with her family, and accusations that Latifa has been captured are rejected.
SVT Nyheter has previously reported on Princess Latifa's
dramatic
escape from the United Arab Emirates.
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Information: Princess Latifa is being held hostage in a villa Photo: BBC