Britain: UAE should prove Dubai's Latifa is alive

The British government says it wants to see proof that Sheikha Latifa, one of the ruler of Dubai's daughters, is still alive after the BBC revealed a video from here - where she claims she's being held hostage in a barricaded villa.

Foreign minister Dominic Raab called the footage "deeply troubling" on Wednesday (February 17).

Speaking to Sky News, he said that people would, quote, "want to see that she's alive and well."

Prime Minister Boris Johnson also said the government are monitoring the situation.

"Well, that's something obviously that we are concerned about, that the UN commission on human rights is looking at that, and I think what we'll do is wait and see how they get on, we'll keep an eye on that."

The video was shown on BBC's Panorama program on Tuesday (February 16).

[Latifa, saying]: "I've been by myself, solitary confinement, no access to medical help, no trial, no charge, nothing."

Latifa said she was filming the video in the villa's bathroom - the only room she could lock.

"...all the windows are barred shut, I can't open any window."

Reuters has been unable to independently verify when or where the video was recorded.

Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed al-Maktoum made headlines in 2018 after claiming she'd been abducted by her father, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum.

At the time, a human rights group released a video she'd made describing an attempt to escape Dubai by boat.

Here's Latifa's lawyer, Rodney Dixon:

"So what needs to happen is that the UN needs to have a very serious meeting directly with those who are holding Princess Latifa at the highest level, and make sure that an agreement is reached so that she can be released and her rights can be restored so she can travel and leave if she wishes, as is the right of anyone in any country."

The Free Latifa campaign has lobbied for her release.

It says it managed to smuggle a phone to her - one she has used to send secret video messages taken over the past two years.

Dubai's government referred questions about the video to Sheikh Mohammed's law firm, which did not respond to a request for comment.