Child Slavery in Dubai

The ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, his brother Hamdam, and 500 are parties to a class-action lawsuit for abducting and trafficking children to use as camel jockeys, the BBC reported yesterday. In addition to being forced to take part in a dangerous sport, the suit claims the children–some as young as 2–were starved, abused, and kept in poor conditions. The use of child camel jockeys was outlawed in Dubai 13 years ago. The case was filed in Miami, where al-Maktoum and his brother have property.