The daughter of the ruler of Dubai will be 'drugged and held against her will' after a failed escape attempt, her best friend told a London press conference.

Princess Latifa Maktoum will be kept hidden away and medicated so that she is not able to communicate with the outside world, it was claimed.

Finnish martial arts instructor Tiina Jauhiainem, who says she was seized by special forces along with Latifa and a former French spy involved with her failed escape bid, said the Princess will not be allowed to speak to anyone.

'She will be drugged as that is the common practice in Dubai when they do not want people to speak out,' said Miss Jauhiainem.

Scroll down for video

Princess Latifa Maktoum, the daughter of the ruler of Dubai, will be 'drugged and being held against her will' after a failed escape attempt, her best friend Tiina Jauhiainem (above) told a London press conference

'She will be drugged as that is the common practice in Dubai when they do not want people to speak out,' Miss Jauhiainem said

Miss Jauhiainem, who says she was seized by special forces along with Latifa and former French spy Herve Jaubert (above) involved with her failed escape bid, said the Princess will not be allowed to speak to anyone

'She will not be allowed to speak out and will be given medication to keep her quiet and under control.

'It will be the same as what happened to her sister who also tried to escape and was jailed.

MailOnline has revealed how Latifa - daughter of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai – enlisted the help of Tiina and ex-French spy Herve Jaubert to flee her homeland

'I am here speaking about my friend because we have to get her freed. The international community must take action and she must not be left with no help.'

Mail Online has revealed how 33 year old Latifa had enlisted the help of Tiina, 41, and former French counter intelligence officer Herve Jaubert to flee from her homeland.

In an emotional video posted online before she was seized in a US registered yacht off the coast of India Latifa claimed she had been previously jailed for three years while attempting to flee Dubai.

She also claimed despite living the life of luxury she was a virtual prisoner and not allowed to drive and placed under a curfew by her father, the billionaire ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Maktoum.

Miss Jauhiainem appealed for global help: 'I am here speaking about my friend because we have to get her freed. The international community must take action and she must not be left with no help.'

Both Miss Jauhiainem and Jaubert, 62, recounted their harrowing ordeal when they said Indian special forces boarded their yacht and threatened to shoot them. The pair said they last saw Latifa shouting out that she was seeking political asylum before being spirited away

David Haigh, from Detained in Dubai, (right) said criminal and legal proceedings had been launched over the illegal detention of Miss Jauhiainem and Herve after they were allegedly imprisoned for almost two weeks and interrogated for up to 20 hours

After boarding a yacht in Oman she was hoping to reach India and travel to the US where she planned to seek political asylum.

When the yacht was 50 miles from Goa Indian special forces boarded the yacht and seized all three, it has been claimed.

Tiina, Jaubert and the founders of the non profit group Detained in Dubai held a press conference in London to highlight the plight of Princess Latifa.

Both Tiina and Jaubert, 62, recounted their harrowing ordeal when they said Indian special forces boarded their yacht and threatened to shoot them.

The pair said they last saw Latifa shouting out that she was seeking political asylum before being spirited away.

She has not been heard from since and the Dubai authorities have refused to comment about her alleged claims and attempt to seek political asylum in the US.

Latifa has not been heard from since and the Dubai authorities have refused to comment about her alleged claims and attempt to seek political asylum in the US

The Nostromo sailing yacht aboard which the failed escape attempt took place. Lawyer Toby Cadman, head of the Guernica 77 Justice Chambers in London, said the seizure of Herve's yacht took place in international waters in violation of international law

Jaubert, who mounted the bold rescue operation, posing at the wheel of the Nostromo

David Haigh, from Detained in Dubai, said criminal and legal proceedings had been launched over the illegal detention of Tiina and Herve after they were allegedly imprisoned for almost two weeks and interrogated for up to 20 hours.

Haigh said: 'The various Governments must see the seriousness of what has happened and cannot turn a blind eye to what has gone on.'

As Herve is a US citizen the FBI has been contacted and is compiling a report. The Finnish Police have also been informed and a missing persons report filed with Scotland Yard.

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have also expressed their support for the growing campaign for Latifa to be freed.

The press conference was briefly disrupted by Arab journalists (above) questioning the integrity of Detained in Dubai and were removed by security from the London hotel where it was held

As Herve is a US citizen the FBI has been contacted and is compiling a report. The Finnish Police have also been informed and a missing persons report filed with Scotland Yard

Former French spy Jean-Pierre Hervé Jaubert who says he helped a 'runaway princess' escape from Dubai in a luxury yacht claims they were 'blindfolded, handcuffed and beaten' by soldiers before being sent back to the UAE

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have also expressed their support for the growing campaign for Latifa to be freed. Latifa - who sent MailOnline a copy of her passport - is trying to seek political asylum in the US

Latifa sent a photo of her UAE identity card (pictured). She claims she was jailed for three years in Dubai and drugged in hospital by doctors to stop her rebelling and causing trouble

Lawyer Toby Cadman, head of the Guernica 77 Justice Chambers in London, said the seizure of Herve's yacht took place in international waters in violation of international law.

He said every avenue to criminal and civil proceedings was being explored.

The press conference was briefly disrupted by Arab journalists questioning the integrity of Detained in Dubai and were removed by security from the London hotel where it was held.

The United Arab Emirates Embassy refused to comment.



