UAE's participation at Queen Elizabeth II funeral sparks protests

A protest vigil outside BBC headquarters in London on Monday, 19th September 2022, in rejection to the participation of MENA's repressive regimes leaders at Queen Elizabeth’s funeral: Including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Slaman (MBS) and Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and others.

Banners reading "killers are not welcome in the UK" were raised during the protest.

Leading human rights lawyer and ex-prisoner in UAE prisons David Hague said during the funeral that the event mainly aims "to highlight our protest against the presence of many Arab leaders including Dubai ruler Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Bahraini King Hamad, as well as Mohammed bin Salman at the Queen's funeral."

As a British person, I found these people being invited to such a prestigious event as horrific and unacceptable, he added.

The Finnish activist Tina Jawahinen, who was one of the UAE regime victims after being detained in UAE jails for helping Sheikha Latifa to flee her home arrest imposed by her father Dubai ruler, also participated in the protest.

Tina expressed her total rejection to Mohammed bin Salman and Mohammed bin Rashid's visit to the UK and their participation at the Queen's funeral or any other important events over their poor human rights record.

Tina also pointed out to her 2018 detention in UAE jails, when she tried to help Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid's daughter, Sheikha Latifa, to escape from her house arrest. However, they were both detained off the Indian coast.

I was kidnapped and held as a prisoner for weeks, so I know what people suffer at the hands of these regimes, she added.