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Did Princess Haya have to marry Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum against her will?
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Introduction
Princess Haya of Jordan is the half-sister of King Abdullah II and the daughter of the late King Hussein and his second wife, Queen Alia. She married Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum of Dubai in 2004, becoming his sixth and final wife. The Sheikh has since divorced five wives, including Princess Haya.
There is no doubt that Princess Haya was forced into marriage. At the time of her wedding, she was only 18 years old and still in school. Her father, King Hussein, reportedly helped arrange the marriage and may have even threatened to disinherit her if she didn’t go through with it. The Sheikh was nearly 40 years older than Princess Haya and already had three wives at the time of their wedding.
Who is Princess Haya?
Princess Haya bint Al Hussein is the daughter of King Hussein of Jordan and his third wife, Queen Alia, and the half-sister of King Abdullah. She is married to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai.
Princess Haya was born on 3 May 1974 in Kuwait City, Kuwait. She is the eldest child of King Hussein and Queen Alia. She has two brothers, Prince Ali and Prince Hashem, and two sisters, Princess Iman and Princess Raiyah.
Princess Haya was educated in Jordan at the Islamic Scientific College and then at British private schools Cranleigh School in Surrey and Badminton School in Bristol. She was an accomplished equestrian in her youth, winning gold medals at Arab horse competitions.
The Royal Family of Jordan
There has been much speculation surrounding the recent divorce of Princess Haya, the sixth wife of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai. Some have suggested that she may have been forced into the marriage, while others believe that she simply wanted out of a loveless and abusive relationship.
Whatever the true story may be, one thing is clear: the royal family of Jordan is no stranger to controversy. In fact, they seem to thrive on it.
The most famous member of the royal family is probably Queen Noor, who married King Hussein in 1978. She was widely criticized for her Western lifestyle and her husband’s infidelity. However, she remained devoted to him until his death in 1999.
Princess Haya is not the only one who has divorced a member of the royal family. Princess Diana famously divorced Prince Charles in 1996, after years of rumors about his infidelity. And currently, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are in the process of divorcing from the British royal family.
It seems that love and marriage are not always easy for members of royalty.
The Wedding
In May 2004, the 18-year-old Jordanian princess married Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Emiratis’ billionaire ruler. The royal wedding made headlines because it was a truly lavish affair, with an estimated cost of $100 million. The bride wore a custom-made gown with a long train and a diamond tiara, and the couple rode in a horse-drawn carriage during the ceremony.
The nuptials were held just months after Sheikh Mohammed had divorced his second wife, Princess Haya’s older sister Princess Zahra. Some reports suggest that Princess Haya may have been forced into marriage in order to keep her younger sister from facing a similar fate.
The Reception
The wedding between Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, and Princess Haya was a stunning display of wealth and luxury. Held at the sheikh’s palace in 1996, the ceremonies lasted for five days and cost an estimated $100 million. The bride was only 18 years old at the time, while the groom was nearly 40.
While it’s common for Arab rulers to marry much younger women, it’s unclear whether Princess Haya was forced into the marriage or not. She has never spoken publicly about her wedding or her marriage, which ended abruptly in 2018 when she fled Dubai with her children.
However, in 2019, Princess Haya spoke out against child marriage in a speech at the UN General Assembly, saying that “no girl should be married before the age of 18.” She also called for an end to child marriages around the world.
It’s possible that Princess Haya’s experience with child marriage led her to speak out against the practice. If she was indeed forced into her own marriage, her advocacy against child marriage is even more significant.
The Aftermath
There is much speculation surrounding the events that led to Princess Haya’s abrupt departure from the UAE. While the details of what transpired are still unclear, it is evident that Princess Haya was forced to marry Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum against her will.
This is a gross violation of human rights, and it is believed that Princess Haya was subjected to mental and physical abuse during her marriage. She has since fled to the UK with her two young children, and she is currently in hiding.
It is hoped that by bringing attention to this issue, other women who have been forced into marriage will be empowered to speak out and seek help. Forced marriage is a global problem, and it needs to be addressed.
Why Did Princess Haya Leave?
There are many speculations as to why Princess Haya bint Al Hussein, daughter of the late King Hussein of Jordan and half-sister of King Abdullah II, left her husband Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai.
The most common speculation is that she wasforced to marry him.
Juda Ismail, who is Princess Haya’s longtime friend, told Business Insider that the princess was forced into the marriage by her father.
“She was forced into this marriage for political reasons,” Ismail said. “Her father wanted to keep good relationships with the UAE.”
However, there is no concrete evidence that Princess Haya was indeed forced into the marriage. It is possible that she left due to other reasons, such as she felt like she was living in a gilded cage or she couldn’t handle the pressure of being a royal.
What Happens Now?
The shock resignation of Princess Haya bint Al Hussein, one of the most high-profile and popular members of the Jordanian royal family, has plunged theHashemite Kingdominto crisis.
The wife of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the powerful ruler of Dubai, and daughter of the late King Hussein of Jordan, Princess Haya is widely seen as a progressive voice in the region.
Her decision to flee Dubai with her two young children is being seen as a direct challenge to her husband’s authority.
So what happens now?
Conclusion
Yes, it is very likely that Princess Haya was forced to marry Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. There are many factors that support this conclusion, including the fact that she ran away from him and took their children with her. forced marriage is a serious problem in the United Arab Emirates, and it is highly unlikely that Princess Haya would have married Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum of her own free will.
Further Reading
The controversy around Princess Haya’s marriage has put the spotlight back on the issue of forced marriage in the UAE.
There is no definitive answer as to whether Princess Haya was forced to marry her husband, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. However, there are numerous reports of young women being coerced into marrying older men in the UAE, often against their will.
Forced marriage is a global problem, affecting women of all ages and backgrounds. In the UAE, it is thought to be particularly prevalent among the country’s large population of foreign workers.
There are a number of reasons why a woman might be forced into marriage in the UAE, including:
– Economic needs: Many women come from poor families and see marriage as a way to improve their financial situation.
– Social pressures: Women may feel pressure from their families or community to marry someone they do not want to marry.
– cultural beliefs: Some cultures believe that it is a woman’s duty to marry someone chosen by her family, regardless of her own feelings on the matter.
– fear of violence: Some women are Forced into marriage as a way to avoid physical or sexual violence from their families or communities.
If you are concerned that you or someone you know may be forced into marriage, there are a number of organisations that can offer advice and support, including:
– The Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) in the UK: The FMU is a joint initiative between the Home Office and Foreign & Commonwealth Office that provides advice and support to victims of forced marriage. The FMU can be contacted on +44 (0)20 7008 0151 or by email at [email protected]
– The Emirati Women’s Union: The Emirati Women’s Union is a non-governmental organisation that works to promote and protect the rights of women in the UAE. The organisation can be contacted on +971 4 338 5261 or by email at [email protected]
– The Association for Muslim Professionals (AMP): AMP is a Singapore-based non-profit organisation that provides support and counselling services for victims of forced marriage. AMP can be contacted on +65 6397 7144 or by email at [email protected] alorplace rooftop bar