LONDON - The wife of Dubai ruler Sheikh
Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum has applied for a "forced
marriage protection order" in England's High Court in relation
to one of her two children.
Princess Haya bint al-Hussein, the 45-year-old Jordanian
daughter of late King Hussein and half-sister to King Abdullah,
also applied for a "non-molestation order," which protects from
harassment or threats. It was not clear who this order was in
relation to.
At the High Court of England and Wales, she also applied for
wardship, which means a child is placed in the hands of the
court for major decisions.
A forced marriage protection order helps if someone says
they have been forced into marriage or are already in a forced
marriage, according to official British legal definitions.
When asked about the court proceedings, an official at the
London embassy of the United Arab Emirates said: "The UAE
government does not intend to comment on allegations about
individuals’ private lives."
Representatives of the sheikh did not immediately respond to
requests for comment. The Dubai government media office declined
to comment on "a private matter that is being resolved in the
court".
The 70-year-old sheikh, who is also vice-president of the
UAE, wed the princess, a former member of the International
Olympic Committee, in 2004 in what was believed to be his sixth
marriage. He has more than 20 children by different wives.
Princess Haya, who competed in equestrian jumping in the
2000 Olympics in Sydney, has often attended Britain's Royal
Ascot horse races with Sheikh Mohammed.
Princess Haya attended the court hearing in London. Sheikh
Mohammed did not. Two of Britain's most famous family lawyers
are representing the two parties: Fiona Shackleton is
representing Haya and Helen Ward is representing Sheikh
Mohammed.
"These proceedings are concerned with the welfare of the two
children of their marriage and do not concern divorce or
finances," the two parties said in a joint statement issued by
the High Court earlier this month.
Last September Amnesty International said Sheikha Latifa
bint Mohammed al-Maktoum, one of the sheikh's daughters by a
different wife, was believed to be held incommunicado in an
undisclosed location in the UAE after being forcibly returned in
March after fleeing Dubai with the help of friends on a boat
that was later intercepted.
The UAE foreign ministry said in December that Sheikha
Latifa was home and living with her family, denying as "false"
media reports citing a widely circulated self-recorded video by
Latifa accusing the family of abusing and restricting her.