US court dismisses child slavery case against Dubai ruler

MIAMI (AFP) - A US judge yesterday dismissed a lawsuit alleging that the ruler of Dubai enslaved thousands of children and forced them to work as camel jockeys, saying the suit fell outside the jurisdiction of the Miami court where it was filed.

Judge Cecilia Altanoga ruled in favor of the defense, which argued that Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashed al-Maktoum and his brother Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashed al-Maktoum did not have sufficient contacts in Florida to justify filing the suit there.

"We've said from the beginning that this case doesn't belong in US Courts and we're gratified by Judge Altonaga's careful legal analysis and ruling," said Habib Al-Mulla, a spokeswoman for the Dubai ruler.