‘A private matter’ behind Robinson’s visit to princesses
Dubai royal defends counsel by former president
FORMER president Mary Robinson visited troubled Dubai royal Sheikha Latifa in response to a request for advice, it emerged yesterday.
Princess of Jordan Haya bint Al Hussein said she had asked the ex-politician to meet them in her capacity as a family friend – and that the matter was private.
Defending Mrs Robinson on RTE Radio’s Marian Finucane Show, Princess Haya described her as someone “who will tell you the right thing and not what you need to hear”.
She added: “I asked her here myself and details of that counsel are private.
“Contrary to what’s being said, it’s not anything other than a private family matter.”
Mrs Robinson has been at the centre of controversy since it emerged she visited Dubai and had lunch with Princess Latifa.
The daughter of the wealthy ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum made headlines after a reported escape bid from the country on a yacht. She had not been seen in public since reports she had been recaptured by commandos near the Indian coastline.
A video recorded days before she tried to flee and later released shows the 32-year-old telling the camera: “If you are watching this video, it is not such a good thing.
“Either I’m dead or I’m in a very, very, very bad situation.”
The circumstances of her return to Dubai alarmed human rights campaigners and nothing had been heard of her publicly until Mrs Robinson’s visit in December.
But yesterday Princess Haya, who is Latifa’s stepmother, said the royal was being kept from public view for her own protection to ensure she’s not “used by anyone else”.
She said remaining faithful to Princess Latifa was her main priority and being asked for proof of life of someone who is alive is “simply absurd”.
Princess Haya said she asked Mrs Robinson for counsel because of her “unblemished track record” and was sorry her actions had resulted in controversy.
She said she wanted the former UN human rights commissioner’s counsel because of her “record of integrity and independence” and for “unfailingly standing up on the side of justice”.
In relation to Mrs Robinson’s comments on Princess Latifa being a “vulnerable and troubled” young woman, Princess Haya said the former president “made no judgment”.
Last week Mrs Robinson said she was “dismayed at some of the media comments” on her visit to the Emirates princess which she undertook “in good faith”.
I asked her here for advice due to her track record of integrity
HAYA BINT AL HUSSEIN DUBAI YESTERDAY