Very hard for a princess to turn to social media for support, says Qatari royal

Born in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, Hend Faisal Al Qassemi is an Emirati businesswoman & mother who now turns to social media to fight possession of her son. In an exclusive interview to WION, she spoke on her claims and battle for her son. Married and amicably separated from Prince Abdullah Saud Jassim Al Thani in 2006, she now wants justice for her son through social platforms after remaining helpless from other platforms. 

Here are the full excerpts of the conversation:

Can you please introduce yourself on your parentage and who were you married to.

My name means India or means most precious of your treasures. My father is a doctor and mother is a retired teacher back in Emirates. I was married to Sheikh Abdullah (Prince Abdullah Saud Jassim Al Thani) in 2006. We separated amicably. I thought it was an amicable separation. He said that if you leave me, you will have no rights. I agreed and surrendered everything to him – the furniture, cars, and house which was the part of dowry at the time. But I was more interested in starting a new life and moving back to Emirates because, after divorce or separation, you leave a huge piece of you behind. You leave the piece that is damaged and you allow your heart to grow again. I left for Emirates with my son and started a new life. My son was in school and I started working. I was happy. But unfortunately the father showed up in the school and he picked up the son and left the country the same day. (Earlier, while pursuing her for the interview, the princess made her apprehensions clear as she stays in Qatar to settle the issue)

Where are you currently located and what is your demand?

I lived in Emirates but I came to Qatar for court cases. Then I decided that I will not leave unless I have my son. So I am here since July 1, 2019. I currently live in Qatar, Doha. My son wanted to be with me. The court declared that the son is temporarily under my custody under final declaration of custody and divorce which by the way has been dragging for years. Divorce cases do not drag for so long. They don't take more than six months to a year and the maximum one a half. But the child lives with his mother. But my case was an exception. When I went ahead of the family court, he (Sheikh Abdullah) was shocked and he declared temporary custody on the same day.

Where are you seeking asylum and why?

I am not just seeking asylum. I have a diplomatic Emirati passport. I have my family owned property around the world. My situation is very delicate. Because it can be only handled by the Qatari government which has been unresponsive to any of my claims and demands. I have been personally contacted by the office of the Prime Minister and they have done nothing. I even contacted the PM on WhatsApp and he promised to solve my problems but haven't done anything. I need a passport for my son to take him out of Qatar. Looks like they don't want to grant me that right. Apparently, there is a law here in Qatar that a foreign mother has no right over his child. She has no rights to choose a child's school or hospital.

You came out with a video appeal after nearly four years of battle as you say. What made you wait so long?

The reason it took me a long time to turn to social media is that I am a Princess. It is very hard for a princess to turn to social media and ask support. Also because we are raised to live diplomatically, to never anger anyone. I may be a very outgoing person but I am very shy. But when it came to my son's health and future, I could not stay silent anymore.

For the first two years, I was thinking he was living relatively comfortable and quite well. But he contacted me four months ago and he complained about how he was locked up at home. Because when I was granted visitation to see him, the father had filed a case against me that if I don't go back and live with him as a wife, I won't be able to see my son. I agreed in a final attempt to be with my child, but it was a trap. The next morning, the judge received a letter from my husband to drop the custody which I think was a joke. Why would I come back to you if I lose my child? I left you for so many reasons! The only thing I came back to you was for my child. Hence the equation was canceled. My son was not living with his father for the last few years. He was living with his aunts. One is 69-years-old and the other was younger. They did not have the love that a child needs. One of them locked him in the room while the other is out for the whole day. He is not allowed to go to school. He has nobody to play with. 
They took away his laptop. mobile as he dared to say that he was going to stay with mother.

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