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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.
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