A former Irish Prime Minister is in hot water this week with human rights groups. All of which ought to be a point of great embarrassment for Mary Robinson; who later went on to become a UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
At the heart of the upset is the so-called missing Emirati princess. Sheikha Latifa — daughter of ruler of Dubai Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum — had been ‘missing’ since March. Earlier this month, the BBC aired its Escape from Dubai: The Mystery of the Missing Princess documentary; detailing how Sheikha had fled the kingdom in a bid to seek asylum in the West. However, she and her accomplice were captured in international waters close to Goa. Central to the film were recordings made by the princess herself. To be broadcast if her plan were foiled. In short, it lifts the lid on Princess Sheikha’s “gilded cage” existence and recounts a previous dash for freedom which resulted in allegations of prolonged periods of torture upon enforced return. She levels similar accusations regarding her older sister; whom she controversially claims was renditioned from the streets of Britain and who was subjected to near relentless sedation. Global rights watchdogs fear that Princess Sheikha has faced similar retribution.
Whether the charges against the Dubai royal family represent the truth or little more than mere flights of fancy is not for us at this newspaper to say. For we are not in possession of all the facts. But it is our place to lend voice to the growing criticism of Ms Robinson following a recent interview with BBC Radio 4 in which she describes Princess Sheikha as a troubled young woman who deeply regrets filming the video diary. And one who is receiving the necessary psychiatry care. Human rights groups are, of course, right to question the former premier’s credentials in making such a judgement value; that too, over a few hours having lunch. Ms Robinson has also been accused of allowing herself to be used as a pawn in a propaganda war.
As a former UN representative for human rights, she ought to have known better.
