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Dubai’s runaway princesses
Dubai may have a reputation as an ultramodern place with an indoor ski hill, the tallest building in the world, and beautiful beaches, but for years the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, has been accused of abusing women — including his own daughters.
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The Sheika Kept Prisoner (with Heidi Blake)
In 2018, Sheika Latifa bint Mohammed Al Maktoum, the daughter of the ruler of Dubai, attempted a daring escape to international waters, away from what she characterized as a dangerous and oppressive life among her family. She was captured and brought back to the United Arab Emirates, and though there have been public statements saying…
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Dark Dubai: Sheiks, Escapes and Runaway Princesses
When the Sheik of Dubai’s daughters tried to escape their father, world powers turned a blind eye. But investigative reporter Heidi Blake was determined to document their plight. Writing for the New Yorker last year, Heidi unraveled the disturbing story of Emirati princesses Latifa and Shamsa, and how Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum crushed…
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The Dubai princesses who risked it all to run away
Sheikha Latifa was born into incredible privilege as the daughter of the leader of Dubai, but she and her sister risked everything to escape years of alleged abuse at the hands of their father. Heidi Blake explores the story in her new podcast The Runaway Princesses.
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“The Runaway Princesses,” a New Yorker Podcast, Exposes the Plight of Dubai’s Royal Women
A four-episode narrative series, from In the Dark, examines why the daughters of the emirate’s ruler have risked their lives to run away.
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The Fugitive Princesses of Dubai
As the emirate’s ruler espoused gender equality, four royal women staked their lives on escaping his control.
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How Pegasus spyware ‘infected’ the phones of Jeff Bezos, El Chapo and No 10
It is the must-have eavesdropping system for the world’s autocrats — as well as many democratic governments. Last week it was reported that some officials at No 10 and the Foreign Office had had their smartphones “infected” with Pegasus, a powerful Israeli-developed cybertool. Not only does it give spies access to all data on the…
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UAE tried to ‘influence’ Tory ministers to ‘mislead’ the public, sacked embassy guard says in court papers
The claims have emerged days after the UAE was accused of being behind spyware infecting phones at Downing Street and the Foreign Office. The United Arab Emirates tried to “influence” Government ministers to “mislead” the British public about important international affairs, a sacked embassy bodyguard claims. Conservative politicians including Ben Wallace and Gavin Williamson, the…
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Sheikh Mohammed: ‘Abusive’ Dubai ruler loses responsibility for children
Dubai’s ruler has been denied legal responsibility for two of his children who live in fear of abduction in Britain because of his “remorseless and unremitting” domestic abuse. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, 72, a member of the Queen’s racing circle, was condemned by a senior British judge for his behaviour towards the youngest of…
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The Price Of Happiness
U.N. Power Broker Jeffrey Sachs Took Millions From the UAE to Research “Well-Being”. Starting in 2016, the men who run the United Arab Emirates went all-in on positivity. They installed a giant smiley face on the dome crowning a Dubai police station. They created a Ministry of Tolerance and a Ministry of Happiness, as if inspired by George…