Saudi Arabian princess seeks asylum in UK over fears of threat to life

Riyadh, July 8 (ANI): Saudi Arabian Princess Sara bint Talal bin Abdulaziz is claiming political asylum in the UK over fears for her safety in her own country.

According to The Telegraph, Princess Sara, 38, has accused senior Saudi officials of plotting to kidnap her and smuggle her back to Riyadh, having subjected her to a "well orchestrated and malicious campaign of persecution".

She currently occupies a suite and several rooms in a five-star London hotel with her four children and two dogs, guarded by a private security team.

"I am very scared right now," she said at a secret location. "They know I can't go back now. There is a threat. That's a slap in the face of the kingdom," she added.

"I've been physically abused. I've been mentally abused. My assets have been frozen. They've accused me of being in opposition [to them] with Iran, they haven't left anything. I've been crucified in every way," The Telegraph quoted her, as saying.

On Friday, Princess Sara's lawyers notified the Home Office of her intention to seek asylum.

Ministers must assess the truth of the allegations and decide whether to offer her a safe haven, a diplomatic dilemma because Saudi authorities want her to return.

Two years after she moved to the UK, her passport expired, and the Saudi Embassy refused to issue a new one. She is threatened with deportation because her visa has also run out. A mystery backer provides her with regular income.

She will further argue that she has been subjected "to a litany of serious crimes, including threats, assault, an attempted kidnapping and the attempted abduction of my children".

A Saudi embassy diplomat said: "The embassy has been involved in settling her visa issue and residency issue in the UK. We have tried to settle this issue. This matter is of a personal nature so there is only so much the government can do. It's not a political matter." (ANI)