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Jordan keeps silent in case pitting princess against sheikh

News Service
09:30 - 1/08/2019 Thursday
Update: 09:32 - 1/08/2019 Thursday
REUTERS
Princess Haya bint Al Hussein, the wife of Dubai's Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid
Princess Haya bint Al Hussein, the wife of Dubai's Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid

MEDIA ALSO SILENT IN UAE

"It was a very clear message from the Emirates that our alliance is steadfast despite all what happened and will remain strong," said Fares Braizat, chairman of NAMA Strategic Intelligence Solutions, a policy research firm.

Together with Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, the UAE has extended significant financial support to help heavily indebted Jordan through years of economic turmoil and political upheaval in the region. Many Jordanians work there.

The case received no coverage in mainstream UAE media, which has frequently covered Princess Haya's charity work. Limited discussion of the case surfaced on social media channels, where authorities closely monitor commentary.

Human Rights Watch said Princess Haya's case underlined the plight of women who try to flee the UAE, where the law denies them the right to make their own decisions on marriage.

"Princess Haya was lucky enough to be able to leave Dubai with her children...That is not the reality for a lot of women," said Rothna Begum, HRW women's rights researcher.

According to a UAE government portal outlining legal requirements for a Muslim marriage, a woman needs the consent of her guardian to get married. A marriage cannot take place without approval of the bride, it says.

Women who have fled Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries in the past several years often say they are escaping domestic abuse or forced marriages. Some have been granted asylum by other nations, but others have been forcibly returned to their countries by authorities at the request of their families.

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