UK court rules in favor of Princess Haya, prevents husband from seeing kids
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Dubai ruler will have no direct contact with his two children after a long battle between the former couple and judgments about his “abusive behavior".
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Princess Haya Bin Al Hussein and her ex-husband, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
A UK judge ruled on Thursday in favor of Dubai ruler's ex-wife, Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, concluding a long battle between the couple after Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum abused her to an "exorbitant degree".
According to Judge Andrew McFarlane, the abuse of Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein was "conducted on a scale which is entirely outside the ordinary circumstances of cases heard in the family court in this jurisdiction."
The judge added that Sheikh Mohammed "consistently displayed coercive and controlling behaviour with respect to those members of his family who he regards as behaving contrary to his will," in a ruling at London's High Court.
Princess Haya was granted full responsibility for the children, aged 14 and 10, in terms of their schooling and medical care.
"The decision to afford the mother sole responsibility for these important matters is justified by the need to reduce the potential for continuing harm to the children," McFarlane added.
As for Sheikh Mohammed, who is also the UAE Prime Minister, he is allowed to communicate with the children through phone calls.
His behavior towards Princess Haya through "threats, poems, coordinating press reports, covertly arranging to purchase property immediately overlooking hers, phone-hacking or in the conduct of this litigation, has been abusive to a high, indeed exorbitant, degree," as per the judge.
The two got married in 2004, and Sheikh Mohammed divorced her in 2019 under Sharia law, without her knowledge.
In 2020, the High Court ruled that Sheikh Mohammed had subjected Princess Haya to a "campaign of fear and intimidation," which forced her to escape to London.
In December, he was ordered to pay her and the children around £550 million ($725 million) in what is thought to be the English court's highest divorce settlement.
Read more: UK court rules in case of Dubai Princess Haya
Princess Haya stated after the ruling that the "last few years have been a frightening journey."
A spokesperson for Sheikh Mohammed said he "maintains his denial of the allegations made in these contentious proceedings."
