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An Abu Dhabi minister has denied allegations that he sexually assaulted a staff member at a British literary festival in the city, after organizers vowed not to return in light of the alleged incident.
Caitlin McNamara, who was launching the Hay Festival in the UAE capital, says she was attacked by the tolerance minister, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, on Valentine’s Day this year.
London lawyers Schillings said the sheikh denies the allegations, which the festival had called “heinous rape and a horrific abuse of trust and position.”
In a statement to Sky News, Schillings commented: “Our client is shocked and saddened by this accusation, which comes eight months after the alleged incident and via a national newspaper. The account is denied.”
The 69-year-old Oxford-educated sheikh invited Ms McNamara to dinner on a private island, The Sunday Times previously reported.
Once there, he said they gave him a diamond-encrusted Tag Heuer watch worth about £ 3,500.
Ms. McNamara added: “It was creepy. He was on the couch next to me and he started touching my arm and feet and I would walk away. Then he got energetic. Suddenly he clicked why he was there. I felt so naive “.
Ms McNamara, 32, who spent six months working in the UAE’s tolerance ministry, said the sheik “grabbed my face and started kissing me.”
She also claims that he touched her breasts in a golden elevator, pushed her onto a bed and exposed himself.
“I was scared,” he told the newspaper.
Ms McNamara, who told the PA news agency that she had waived her right to anonymity, was interviewed by the Metropolitan Police about her allegations when she returned to the UK.
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In an interview in January 2019, just before Pope Francis’ visit, Sheikh Nahyan said: “Our definition of tolerance is respect for others. And our definition of tolerance is to understand the other, to speak among ourselves, at the same time maintaining our own differences.
“This is like (a) mosaic. It is a beautiful mosaic, our differences, whether in our religions or culture or other habits, so it means respect for others, understanding, learning from others.”
Hay Festival says it will not return to Abu Dhabi as long as the Sheikh remains in office
Caroline Michel, president of the Hay Festival, said on Twitter: “What happened to our colleague and friend Caitlin McNamara in Abu Dhabi last February was a gruesome violation and a horrible breach of trust and position.
“Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan scoffed at his ministerial responsibilities and tragically undermined his government’s attempt to work with Hay Festival to promote freedom of expression and female empowerment.
We continue to support Caitlin in seeking legal redress for this attack and urge our friends and partners in the United Arab Emirates to reflect on the behavior of Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan and send a clear signal to the world that such behavior will not will be tolerated. .
“Hay Festival will not return to Abu Dhabi as long as it remains at its post.”
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