Ex-wife of Dubai ruler's nephew in custody, prosecutors say

Zeynab Javadli had not been in contact with any of her friends since Tuesday. Zeynab Javadli: Ex-wife of Dubai ruler's nephew in custody, prosecutors say Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Zeynab Javadli speaking on a video call. Ex-wife of Dubai ruler's nephew in custody, prosecutors say Zeynab Javadli divorced Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum in 2019 Close up of Zeynab Javadli, who has dark hair and is wearing a brown top. The ex-wife of a nephew of the ruler of Dubai has been taken into custody, authorities have said. Dubai Public Prosecution told the BBC that Zenab Javadli was detained following a complaint made by the father of her three children - her former husband, Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum. He alleged that she had abducted the children during a court-approved visitation session. Javadli's family and friends had lost contact with her since Tuesday night and had raised the alarm over her whereabouts. lost contact with her since Tuesday night and had raised the alarm over her whereabouts. For almost two days, no news was received as to where Javadli or her children had gone. For months, she had barely left the house as she believed security officers were waiting to take her children from her and put her under arrest. Last year, her ex-husband lodged his complaint with the police accusing her of kidnapping their daughters. That was after the children changed hands between their parents several times, with each accusing the other of kidnap. Javadli - a former international gymnast - has also been facing potential arrest for e-crimes - online offences - in the UAE after she livestreamed one of the showdowns last year. Javadli is a former gymnast who represented Azerbaijan at an international level Zeynab Javadli at a gymnastics competition in 2011. She is wearing a blue and purple leotard embellished with jewels. The photo captures her jumping in the air doing a split kick with her front leg and arm going through a large hoop. At the time she explained her actions in a video message to the British human rights lawyer David Haigh, who has been advocating for her: "I knew that it was the last chance to be with my children as they would never let me see them again. I genuinely believed that it was my last chance, so I just opened a livestream and called for help." Lawyers acting for Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum have claimed in court hearings in the custody case over their children that she was an unfit mother who had failed to send her daughters to school, was living in a place unsuitable for the children when she was in a hotel, and that she had put the health of the youngest girl at risk. In a statement on Thursday evening, Dubai Public Prosecution said the matter remained under investigation and was subject to ongoing legal proceedings. "[We] will continue to take the necessary legal measures in accordance with applicable laws, while safeguarding the children's wellbeing and best interests," it added. In response, Haigh called on the UAE to immediately grant Javadli access to her lawyer, her consulate and her family and be released back to her home in Dubai. Screengrab of video showing Zeynab Javadli speaking from her home in Dubai Ex-wife of Dubai royal says she fears arrest as custody battle escalates British lawyer David Haigh lost contact with Zeynab Javadli on Tuesday and the BBC has been told her home in Dubai is locked and empty. The United Arab Emirates has denied any involvement in the civil war and says it investigates alleged links. The country is investigating the source of the strike, which it calls a "dangerous escalation". Ryan Pepper, from Kent, has been imprisoned in the UAE "without explanation", says the group. The UK Foreign Office says it is giving consular assistance to "a small number of British nationals" that have been detained there after allegedly taking pictures of Iranian attacks. The Gulf's hub airports made long-distance travel cheaper - but now their future looks unclear. The port of Fujairah plays a crucial role in helping keep global supplies moving when the Strait of Hormuz is blocked. The city has been considered a safe haven by expats, tourists and influencers - but that's now being tested.