Dubai ruler’s wife seeks 'forced marriage protection order' in English court

By Andrew MacAskill

 

Princess Haya bint Al Hussein, the wife of Dubai's Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is seen leaving The Royal Courts of Justice in London, Britain, July 30, 2019. REUTERS/Toby Melville

 

LONDON (Reuters) - 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.

 

The wife of Dubai's ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, has applied to a British court for what's called a "forced marriage protection order", as well as wardship of her children. But it's not clear whom the protection order pertains to. Lucy Fielder reports.

 

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.

 

(Reporting by Andrew MacAskill; writing by Guy Faulconbridge; editing by John Stonestreet)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-07-31

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In that pc society, she will win. 

I doubt any order in the UK Courts will have any authority in UAE

4 minutes ago, RJRS1301 said:

I doubt any order in the UK Courts will have any authority in UAE

Yes, it would mean the kid can not leave the UK without the court's consent, thereby protecting it from the father. The same applies to the protection order for the mother, it would give her much more leeway in dealing with this. Yes, in the UK.

 

Slowly slowly modern times are also overtaking that part of the world.

18 minutes ago, stevenl said:

Yes, it would mean the kid can not leave the UK without the court's consent, thereby protecting it from the father. The same applies to the protection order for the mother, it would give her much more leeway in dealing with this. Yes, in the UK.

 

Slowly slowly modern times are also overtaking that part of the world.

From what I have read recently the children of the couple were in the UAE

18 minutes ago, stevenl said:

Yes, it would mean the kid can not leave the UK without the court's consent, thereby protecting it from the father. The same applies to the protection order for the mother, it would give her much more leeway in dealing with this. Yes, in the UK.

 

Slowly slowly modern times are also overtaking that part of the world.

From what I have read recently the children of the couple were in the UAE

4 minutes ago, RJRS1301 said:

From what I have read recently the children of the couple were in the UAE

They’re with her in the uk, according to the BBC

 

Princess Haya: Dubai ruler's wife seeks marriage protection order https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-49162276

 

 

57 minutes ago, Somtamnication said:

In that pc society, she will win. 

Good. 

2 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

They’re with her in the uk, according to the BBC

 

Princess Haya: Dubai ruler's wife seeks marriage protection order https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-49162276

 

 

Ok, thanks for the update

Unfortunately dictatorships from that part of the world think themselves above the law of other sovereign states.

 

Though the divorce settlement could be interesting, he has a lot of assets in the UK.  

4 hours ago, Somtamnication said:

In that pc society, she will win. 

Women's rights and protecting them from forced marriage is equal justice not being politically correct.

3 hours ago, edwinchester said:

Women's rights and protecting them from forced marriage is equal justice not being politically correct.

By giving people Equal Rights to people, no one looses anything, but society gains much

4 hours ago, Basil B said:

Unfortunately dictatorships from that part of the world think themselves above the law of other sovereign states.

 

Though the divorce settlement could be interesting, he has a lot of assets in the UK.  

Seize them all, before he has a chance to sell them.

mmm, 6th wife is she... lol. ... send her back to the UAE... 1st class of course..