Photos Seem to Show Princess Sheikha Latifa Safe and Free
The Claim
The photo below depicts the ruler of Dubai’s daughter alive and well in Spain.
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The photo circulated on social media in late June 2021 after being posted on Instagram by Sioned Taylor. Some social media users believe that it shows Latifa has safely escaped; others find it suspicious and think Latifa is still a hostage; and still others believe that she is dead.
Misbar’s Analysis
MENA: After she was seized at gunpoint while trying to flee Dubai, Latifa said that she’s a “hostage” afraid for her life. Many social media users believe that Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, either had her killed or is still holding her hostage.
The recent photo does seem to depict Latifa at the Barajas airport in Madrid. Taylor said that Latifa is “great” in response to queries about her health and safety.
The photo is one of several recently posted that seem to depict Latifa out in public.
We could not find evidence of any photo manipulation using photoshop-discovery software. However, many social media users have pointed out that Latifa’s face seems uncomfortable in the photos, and believe it to be part of a series of staged photos meant to show Latifa’s safety although she is still a hostage.
Without further information, we rate this claim as suspicious.
