The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
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
- Exterior wide shot, Palais des Nations building and flag alley, a sunny day.
- Wide shot, podium with speakers in a near-empty Room XIV in line with COVID-19 distancing measures, Palais des Nations.
- 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.”
- Close-up, UN logo, Room XIV, Palais des Nations.
- 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.”
- Close-up, UNTV camera, Room XIV, Palais des Nations.
- 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.”
- Medium shot, podium with speakers to rear, Room XIV, Palais des Nations.
- 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.”
- Medium shot, UNTV camera in foreground and podium with speakers to rear, Room XIV, Palais des Nations.
- 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.”
- Close-up, laptop screen, Room XIV, Palais des Nations.
- Medium close-up, UN logo, Room XIV, Palais des Nations.
Similar Stories
1
1
1
Edited News | UNIFIL , UNFPA , IOM , UNHCR
As the UN Secretary-General touched down in Beirut on Friday in solidarity with the people of Lebanon, UN agencies highlighted the dangers for civilians and particularly pregnant women and migrant workers, amid ongoing airstrikes and rocket fire between Hezbollah fighters and Israel.
2
1
2
Press Conferences , Edited News | HRC
Russia’s deportations of Ukrainian children amount to crimes against humanity: independent UN rights probe
Scores of Ukrainian children are still missing after being deported far and wide across Russia and occupied territories while their families continue to search for them, human rights investigators said on Thursday.
2
1
2
Edited News , Press Conferences | OCHA
The UN’s emergency relief chief on Wednesday condemned the “$1 billion-a-day” cost of the war roiling the Middle East, at a time of severe cuts to the global body’s humanitarian work in emergencies and “soaring” needs.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , WHO , UNHCR , UNICEF , WFP
Middle East war: UN warns of ‘toxic rain’ danger from oil depot strikes as mass displacement, aid supply shocks spread
Toxic “black rain” linked to strikes on oil depots, mass displacement and continuing disruption to humanitarian supply chains are upending lives across the Middle East and beyond after 10 days of war in the region, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on Friday made the following remarks on Israel’s military ground incursions and displacement orders in Lebanon.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , IOM , WHO
The escalating war in the Middle East has heightened growing concerns about further civilian suffering and displacement in the region and far beyond, UN agencies said on Friday.
2
1
2
Press Conferences , Edited News | OHCHR
UN Human Rights chief Volker Türk made the following remarks at a press stake out on the current situation in the Middle East.
“The crisis sparked in the Middle East one week ago following US and Israeli attacks on Iran, and Iran’s counterattacks, has been spreading like wildfire. It is causing significant damage in Iran, Israel and at least a dozen other countries, mostly in the Gulf, with risks of major economic and environmental ramifications across the world,” he said.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on Tuesday made the following remarks on the current situation in the Middle-East.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNHCR , WFP
Schoolgirls killed, thousands displaced, aid routes compromised: UN humanitarians deplore effects of new Middle East war
On the fourth day of Israeli and United States airstrikes against Iran and amid growing violence and instability in the Middle East, the UN urgently called for protection of civilians and warned of growing displacement and humanitarian needs.
1
1
1
Edited News | IOM
Well over 1.3 million people have fled Sudan’s ongoing war for South Sudan, the UN migration agency, IOM, reported on Friday, amid rising violence and a massive humanitarian emergency linked to the country’s political crisis.
2
1
2
Statements , Conferences , Edited News | HRC , OHCHR
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Friday presented to the 61st Human Rights Council his global update on the human rights situation.
2
1
2
Edited News | OHCHR
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Thursday presented to the UN Human Rights Council a new report on the human rights situation in occupied Palestinian territory.