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Now is the time to pressure Dubai emir for releasing his two daughters from jail
"Keeping someone in solitary confinement is a form of torture. Latifa endured physical torture when she was a teenager. This time around it’s been psychological," said Tiina Jauhiainen.
19 Februari 2021 22:19Sheikha Latifa, the daughter of Dubai Emir Sheikh Muhammad bin Rashid al-Maktum, with her best friend Tiina Jauhiainen. (Tiina Jauhiainen for Albalad.co)
Faisal Assegaf
For the second time after two times failed to escape from the her country, Sheikha Latifa, the daughter of Dubai Emir Sheikh Muhammad bin Rashid al-Maktum, has been put in a villa that converted into a jail.
After around a year, Sheikha Latifa can connect agains with her best friend, a Finnish woman Tiina Jauhiainen. Initially, Sheikha Latifa sent her a few letters through her messenger to tell about her bad conditions. Then they communicated each other via a mobile phone which succefully smuggled to her.
Tiina is the person who helped Sheikha Latifa to flee from Dubai in last February 2008. But their efforts failed after they were abducted by Dubai emir's men in Indian waters in March 4.
Please read:
Sheikha Latifa tried to escape because she wants to have a normal life
Dubai emir has allegedly detained and tortured his two daughters
"Spring 2019 someone passed me a message from her and later on we managed to smuggle a phone to her," said Tiina Jauhiainenin an exclusive interview with Faisal Assegaf from Albalad.co via WhatsApp today. "It was a villa converted into a jail. The Windows barred shut. There are polices and cameras. Yes (it is) in Dubai. Only about a mile from Burj Khalifa, the worlds tallest building."
The last time they had contact was last summer and then it suddenly stopped.
Excerpts:
Since Sheikha Latifa abducted by her father's men, when did you get contact with her again?
Spring 2019 someone passed me a message from her and later on we managed to smuggle a phone to her.
Is that someone who is part of her bodyguard?
No and I can not disclose any information about the person for safety reasons.
Did Sheikha Latifa's messenger meet you face to face in London to giver her first letter to you?
There was never any face to face meeting.
What did she say in her first message to you?
The first message explained what had happened to her since she was kidnapped. How she was tranquilized and flown back to Dubai.
The first message in the form of letter of video clip?
Initially letters. It was only after several weeks that we managed to smuggle the phone to her.
How did you verify the first letter was from Sheikha Latifa?
Well it was the other way around. The person verified I was the right Tiina she was looking for.
Did you know the messenger before?
No, not at all.
How many letters did you receive from Sheikha Latifa before you can chat with her after successfully smuggled a smartphone to her?
I am not sure about how many exactly. Quite a few.
From video clips you received from her, can you describe where she was being detained and how about the conditions of her detention place?
It was a villa converted into a jail. The Windows barred shut. There are polices and cameras.
Is the location of the villa in Dubai?
Yes in Dubai. Only about a mile from Burj Khalifa, the worlds tallest building.
Is it the same villa when she was detained before?
Not the same place where she was jailed when she was a teenager.
Did she get torture again this time?
Keeping someone in solitary confinement is a form of torture. Latifa endured physical torture when she was a teenager. This time around it’s been psychological.
How about food and medical access for her?
She was provided food but no medical care.
After abducted in March 2018, did she meet with her father before detained in that villa?
It's a question I can not answer.
Have she visited the villa that become her prison now?
She had not visited that villa before. It’s converted into a jail.
Whose villa is that?
I don’t know.
How many bodyguards or police secure that villa everyday?
I am not sure. She may mention on her video.
When did you get contact with her by phone for first time after she got a cellphone which smuggled to her?
Spring 2019 initially messages were exchanged via someone.
How did Princess Latifa can record and took pictures if there is thight security around her?
She recorded those videos in the toilet during the night.
Do you think at this time there will be the strongest pressure against Dubai emir to release Princess Latifa and also Shamsa?
I think basically this is the best opportunity we have had during the past years. Finally the international community is speaking out.
I hope so, but he is one of the most powerful person in the world because of his money?
That's true. You can use our comments from the press release.
When did you last time contact with her?
Last time we had contact was last summer and then it suddenly stopped.
Do you think she was already moved to another place?
I assume they must have moved her to another location by now. Especially after the release of the news.
Have you got dead threats or intimidations by Dubai emir's men because of thisrevealation?
No, I have not recevived any threats after publishing the recordings.