UNOG Bi-weekly press briefing: OHCHR update on Princess Latifa and Prince Hamzah
/
2:46
/
MP4
/
204.3 MB

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UNOG Bi-weekly press briefing: OHCHR update on Princess Latifa and Prince Hamzah

STORYLINE

OHCHR reiterates concerns over Jordanian prince and Dubai princess.

It is still not clear if Jordan’s Prince Hamzah is under de facto house arrest or not, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said on Friday.

Despite an ongoing investigation into the Prince’s disappearance, Marta Hurtado, spokesperson for the OHCHR, told journalists that “no charges have yet been brought…We are concerned at the lack of transparency around these arrests and detentions”.

It has been widely reported that Jordan's King Abdullah II placed his half-brother, Prince Hamzah under house arrest on 3 April for allegedly plotting with foreign supporters to destabilise Jordan.

Hamzah has denied the allegations, saying he was speaking out against corruption and mismanagement.

The arrests of Prince Hamzah and at least 16 other senior officials and tribal leaders are “the latest in an escalating series of measures over the past year, targeting in particular criticism of government policies and corruption,” said Ms. Hurtado.

Regarding the continuing efforts to trace Princess Latifa Al Maktoum, the daughter of Dubai's ruler, the OHCHR spokesperson said that the office still hadn’t received “any proof of life”.

Princess Latifa reportedly tried to flee the Emirate in 2018 but was forcibly returned. Dubai's royal family has previously said that she is safe and being "cared for at home".

In smuggled phone video messages taken over the last two years , she claimed she was being held “hostage” in a locked villa surrounded by police.

The messages have since ceased, and in February the UN asked the United Arab Emirates for proof that Princess Latifa was alive. To date, there has been no confirmation of this.

“We would like clear compelling evidence that she is alive,” said Ms. Hurtado “and ideally of course, we would like to meet her, to talk to her freely, alone, and to examine all the aspects of her situation”, she added.

Reiterating the efforts that have so far been made, Ms. Hurtado said the OHCHR was assessing a number of possible options: “We’re trying to set up a meeting between senior human rights officials and the new Ambassador of the UAE to the UN in Geneva.”

“In principle, the Missions have accepted this request, but we have not a fixed date yet,” she concluded.

ends

STORY: OHCHR update on Princess Latifa and Prince Hamzah

TRT: 02 min 45s

SOURCE: UNTV CH

RESTRICTIONS: NONE

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

ASPECT RATIO: 16:9

DATELINE: 9 APRIL 2021 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

SHOTLIST

  1. Exterior wide shot, Palais des Nations building and flag alley, a sunny day.
  2. Wide shot, podium with speakers in a near-empty Room XIV in line with COVID-19 distancing measures, Palais des Nations.
  3. SOUNDBITE (English) — Marta Hurtado, spokesperson, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “We are following the events concerning Prince Hamzah bin Hussein, the former Crown Prince of Jordan, and the arrest and detention of at least 16 other senior officials and tribal leaders on the 3 April. We are aware that there is an ongoing investigation but still it’s not clear to us is if following the mediation on 5 April, Prince Hamzah is still under de facto house arrest or not.”
  4. Close-up, UN logo, Room XIV, Palais des Nations.
  5. SOUNDBITE (English) — Marta Hurtado, spokesperson, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “It appears that no charges have been yet brought and we are concerned at the lack of transparency around these arrests and detentions. We underline that an investigation, including investigations on the basis of accusations linked to national security, must be conducted in line with international human rights law.”
  6. Close-up, UNTV camera, Room XIV, Palais des Nations.
  7. SOUNDBITE (English) — Marta Hurtado, spokesperson, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “The 3 April arrest were the latest in an escalating series of measures over the past year, targeting in particular criticism of government policies and corruption, and contributing to an increasingly repressive securitisation of society.”
  8. Medium shot, podium with speakers to rear, Room XIV, Palais des Nations.
  9. SOUNDBITE (English) — Marta Hurtado, spokesperson, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “We are assessing a number of possible options. We’ve been in contact with the mission of the UAE here, we’re trying to set up a meeting between senior human rights officials and the new Ambassador of the UAE to the UN in Geneva and in principle the missions have accepted this request but we have not a fixed date yet.”
  10. Medium shot, UNTV camera in foreground and podium with speakers to rear, Room XIV, Palais des Nations.
  11. SOUNDBITE (English) — Marta Hurtado, spokesperson, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “Yes, we haven’t got any proof of life and we would like one, and one that is clear compelling evidence that she is alive and our first concern, of course, is to be sure of that, that she is still alive. And ideally of course, we would like to meet her, to talk to her freely, alone, and to examine all the aspects of her situation.”
  12. Close-up, laptop screen, Room XIV, Palais des Nations.
  13. Medium close-up, UN logo, Room XIV, Palais des Nations.

Similar Stories

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk Remarks to HRC 60 Urgent debate

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk Remarks to HRC 60 Urgent debate ENG FRA

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk addressed the Human Rights Council during a meeting on the Israeli strike on negotiators in Qatar on Tuesday. “Israel’s strike on negotiators in Doha on 9 September was a shocking breach of international law, an assault on regional peace and stability, and a blow against the integrity of mediation and negotiating processes around the world,” he said.

Gaza Al-Mawasi update - UNICEF

1

1

1

Edited News | UNICEF

Gaza Al-Mawasi update - UNICEF ENG FRA

Gaza: Thirsty and starving, war-battered families face ‘inhumane’ evacuation 

As bombs continue to fall on Gaza City as part of the intensifying Israeli military operation, families with starving children are being pushed southwards from one “hellscape” to another, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Tuesday.

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Elizabeth Throssell on DPRK

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Elizabeth Throssell on DPRK ENG FRA

New UN Human Rights report finds 10 years of increased suffering repression and fear

The UN Human Rights Office on Friday published a report on the human rights situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) since 2014. 

Afghanistan update - UNICEF UNHCR 12 September 2025

1

1

2

Edited News | UNICEF , UNHCR

Afghanistan update - UNICEF UNHCR 12 September 2025 ENG FRA

The ongoing humanitarian response to the devastating Afghanistan earthquake disaster continued on Friday, although essential services have been cut for operational reasons following reinforced Taliban restrictions on women working with the UN, the global body said.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights report on DRC at the 60th Human Rights Council

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights report on DRC at the 60th Human Rights Council ENG FRA

Un nouveau rapport du Haut-Commissariat des Nations Unies aux droits de l'homme sur la République démocratique du Congo évoque le spectre de crimes de guerre et de crimes contre l'humanité dans le Nord et le Sud-Kivu., 

HRC60 Press Conference: Report of the Sudan Fact-Finding Mission - 09 September 2025

2

1

2

Press Conferences , Edited News | HRC

HRC60 Press Conference: Report of the Sudan Fact-Finding Mission - 09 September 2025 ENG FRA

A high-level independent rights probe into the Sudan crisis on Tuesday condemned the many grave crimes committed against civilians by all parties to the war, citing disturbing evidence indicating that they had been “deliberately targeted, displaced and starved”.

Ukraine attacks - health update - WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO

Ukraine attacks - health update - WHO ENG FRA

Ukraine: ‘Relentless’ attacks rattle health system as winter approaches: WHO

Ambulances attacked, chronically ill patients lacking care and no peace in sight: for millions of Ukrainians, the run-up to another winter of war is just the latest life-or-death challenge they face, the UN health agency (WHO) said on Tuesday.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights presents report on Sri Lanka to 60th HRC

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights presents report on Sri Lanka to 60th HRC ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Monday delivered his report on Sri Lanka to the 60th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

HRC 60 HC Volker Türk Global update speech

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

HRC 60 HC Volker Türk Global update speech ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Monday delivered his global update to the 60th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

DRC: UN report raises spectre of war crimes and crimes against humanity

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

DRC: UN report raises spectre of war crimes and crimes against humanity ENG FRA

A UN report on the Democratic Republic of Congo raises specter of war crimes and crimes against humanity in North and South Kivu, according to UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani.

Global air pollution update - WMO 04 September 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | WMO

Global air pollution update - WMO 04 September 2025 ENG FRA

As billions of people continue to breathe polluted air that causes more than 4.5 million premature deaths every year, UN climate experts on Friday highlighted how damaging microscopic smoke particles from wildfires play their part, travelling half-way across the world.

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on Cameroon

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on Cameroon ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Office Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence made the following comment on the on-going presidential election process in Cameroon at the bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva.