A British court new ruling reveals that Dubai ruler has abused his ex-wife though hacking her cell phone and her lawyer’s cell phone. Princess Haya was subject to other sorts of abuse and threat in recent years.
New evidence reveled that Dubai ruler ordered the hacking of his former wife along with her attorney. British High Court announced the result of an investigation according to which Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum meant to intimidate his ex-wife during the legal battle to take the custody of their children.
Like many other Arab rulers and kings, Dubai ruler hacked the phones of his ex-wife using the Israeli Pegasus spyware. NSO, an Israeli corporation working on digital security developed the controversial Pegasus. Princess Haya bint Al Hussein, step-sister to King Abdullah II of Jordan, divorced Al Maktoum in February 2019.
Al Maktoum’s agents also sought to buy a home beside Haya’s in the vicinity of London. The court concluded that it was an act of intimidation that left the Jordanian princess feeling stalked and scared, and as if she “couldn’t breathe anymore.”
Unsurprisingly, Dubai leader dismissed the investigation results. Al Maktoum said the ruling was unjust due to relying on inaccurate evidence. “Neither the Emirate of Dubai nor the UAE are party to these proceedings. The findings are, therefore, inevitably based on an incomplete picture,” he said in a statement.
The case was opened by a correspondence between Princess Haya’s Lawyer and and the wife of former British prime minister Tony Blair. The evidence shows that an external advisor working for the NSO group wrote an email to Shackleton, Haya’s lawyer late at night on Aug. 5, 2020. Blair stressed on the urgency of a talk with her at the same night.
The Curious Case of Dubai Ruler and Prince Haya
The new verdict comes more than one and a half year after the court found Dubai ruler had kidnapped, tortured, and kept two of his daughters of their own will. In his judgement, Judge Andrew McFarlane, president of the Family Division in England and Wales, observed, “The findings indicate a total violation of trust, and indeed an abuse of power to a large extent.”
The convict’s lawyers alleged other regional nations for the phone hack and attempt to abuse the children. “The father has no knowledge of any such activity taking place,” David Pannick said in the court. “He has not authorised it or instructed, encouraged or in any way suggested any other person should use NSO or any software in this way.”
Since moving to England with her two children, Haya has been embroiled in a lengthy, nasty, and pricey custody struggle. She claimed she was concerned for her safety following the rumors about a potential affair with one of British bodyguards.
The renowned Fiona Shackleton was another target of the hacking operation. Shackleton is member of the British House of Lords and former lawyer of Prince Charles in divorce from princess Diana.
Following the breach of Pegasus scandal, a cybersecurity specialist from Citizen Lab contacted Haya’s lawyers. NSO terminated its agreement with the Abu Dhabi after the discovery of the hack. The Israeli corporation said it couldn’t offer an opinion right now, but that it would take action. No further action was reported since then.
Dubai ruler abuse agaist her ex-wife and children is now evident. The legal action by NSO and international society against him, however, remain stringent upon multiple factors. Israel-UAE ties and British political and economic interests are of the main factors.
