Life & Style
A diplomatic conundrum
MARIA SAEED
KARACHI: Princess Sara bint Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the niece of Saudi Arabia's ruler, says she
MARIA SAEEDKARACHI: Princess Sara bint Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the niece of Saudi Arabia's ruler, says she’s seeking political asylum in the UK.
According to media reports, the Princess says she faces persecution by members of her family and also some of Saudi Arabia's authorities. She accuses senior Saudi officials of plotting to kidnap her and smuggle her back to Riyadh.
The claim, the first ever made by a senior member of the ruling family’s inner circle, will embarrass the Saudi dynasty and threatens a diplomatic row between Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom.
Tensions are high within the Saudi royal family, due to the illness of King Abdullah and the recent death of Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud. The deceased Prince supported Sara as he also opposed her father, and it was reported that his recent death may have sparked the asylum request.
The mother-of-four says she has applied to the Home Office for political asylum. She moved to the UK in 2007 and currently lives in London.
While living first in the Cotswolds, then in London, Princess Sara won custody of her children. She is party to a continuing inheritance battle with her older brother, Prince Turki, over their late mother's cash, jewels and property in Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Egypt and Lebanon, valued at an estimated 350 million pounds.
Saudi officials have asked her to return to Riyadh to argue her case, rather than air her grievances abroad.
A Saudi Embassy Diplomat confirmed the embassy had been involved in visa negotiations.
Asked if she was ferried everywhere by Rolls-Royce, she replied: ''I hate Rolls-Royces, I love Aston Martins.''
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