The Runaway Princess: Where Is She Now?

Princess Meriam Al-Khalifa, a member of the Bahraini royal family, is known for her activism and dedication to advocating for human rights, gender equality, and social justice. As of 2023, she resides in Bahrain and leads a private life while engaging in philanthropic endeavours. Meriam Al-Khalifa was previously married to US Marine Lance Corporal Jason Johnson, who helped her flee Bahrain and elope to the United States. Facing deportation, she was eventually granted asylum due to fears of honour-related violence from her family. Their story gained widespread media attention and inspired the television movie The Princess and the Marine. However, the couple divorced in 2004, and Princess Meriam Al-Khalifa has since returned to Bahrain, actively contributing to her country and the world.

Princess Meriam Al-Khalifa's marriage to US Marine Jason Johnson

Princess Meriam Al-Khalifa, a member of the Bahraini Royal House of Al-Khalifa, met US Marine Lance Corporal Jason Johnson in January 1999 at an Americanized shopping mall in Bahrain. Johnson was stationed in Bahrain as part of a counter-terrorism unit providing security for expatriate Americans. Despite the obstacles posed by their different religions—Johnson was a Mormon and Al-Khalifa was a Muslim, forbidden to marry a non-Muslim—they fell in love and continued their relationship in secret.

When Johnson's tour of duty ended in November 1999, he helped Al-Khalifa flee Bahrain and smuggled her into the United States using fake military transfer documents and a disguise, including a New York Yankees baseball cap. They were married in a Las Vegas chapel on November 16, 1999, and Al-Khalifa settled into life as a military housewife, living in base housing at Camp Pendleton.

Johnson was court-martialed for his role in helping Al-Khalifa flee Bahrain and was demoted to "Private," the lowest rank in the United States Marine Corps. He was honorably discharged two months later. Al-Khalifa, facing deportation, applied for political asylum in the United States, citing fears of harm or death for her relationship and subsequent marriage to a non-Muslim American, as well as for fleeing her native country illegally. She was granted asylum in May 2001.

The couple's story made headlines and was featured in a made-for-television movie, "The Princess and the Marine," which aired on NBC in 2001. They also made appearances on television talk shows, including The Oprah Winfrey Show. However, their marriage faced challenges due to constant tension with Al-Khalifa's family and the couple eventually grew apart. Johnson filed for divorce in November 2004, citing "incompatibility in marriage." Al-Khalifa was not represented by a lawyer in the divorce filing, and it is unclear if she remained in the United States afterward.

Meriam's asylum in the US

Sheikha Meriam bint Abdullah Al Khalifa, a member of the Bahraini Royal House of Al-Khalifa, fled her family and native Bahrain to the United States to elope with US Marine Lance Corporal Jason Johnson. At the time, Johnson was stationed in Bahrain as part of a counter-terrorism unit providing security for American expatriates. Disguised as a female US Marine and using fake military transfer documents forged by Johnson, Al Khalifa was smuggled into the US. However, she was threatened with deportation by US Customs.

Al Khalifa applied for asylum, claiming that she feared honour violence from her family in retaliation for her relationship with a non-Muslim and for fleeing her country without permission. She stated that if she returned to Bahrain, she would face death or execution. Johnson supported these claims, stating that there was constant tension with her family and that the FBI had intercepted a Syrian national who claimed to have been paid $500,000 to assassinate her.

Al Khalifa's story received extensive media coverage in the US, including an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show. It also inspired a made-for-TV movie, "The Princess and the Marine", which aired on NBC in 2001. The movie sparked one of the biggest bidding wars for packaged rights in the history of television movies.

In May 2001, Al Khalifa was granted asylum in the US, and she was also granted Permanent Residency status, also known as a Green Card. She resumed communication with her family in Bahrain and returned to visit them in late 2001, despite her earlier claims of fearing for her safety. She stated that she and her family were concerned about the potential for violence against people of Middle Eastern descent following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Al Khalifa and Johnson's marriage ended in divorce in November 2004, with both parties citing incompatibility. Johnson claimed that Al Khalifa had become engrossed in the Las Vegas nightlife, leading to their estrangement. Despite the divorce, Al Khalifa appears to have remained in the US, as there is no recent information suggesting otherwise.

Meriam's return to Bahrain

Meriam bint Abdullah Al Khalifa, a member of the Bahraini Royal House of Al-Khalifa, fled her family and native Bahrain in 1999 to elope with US Marine Lance Corporal Jason Johnson. After a brief period of custody by US customs and immigration officials, she was granted asylum in the United States, citing fears of honour-related violence and potential death if she returned to her family in Bahrain.

In late 2001, Meriam returned to Bahrain to visit her family. By this time, she had been granted Permanent Residency status in the US, popularly known as a Green Card. Despite her earlier claims that she feared violence or death if she returned to her home country, she stated that she and her family were more concerned about "violence aimed at people of Middle Eastern descent" following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

After her visit to Bahrain, Meriam returned to the United States and settled back into her life. However, her marriage with Johnson began to deteriorate, and they eventually filed for divorce in 2004, citing "incompatibility in marriage." Johnson attributed the dissolution of their union to Meriam's interest in the Las Vegas nightlife, while she has maintained a relatively private life since then.

Meriam and Johnson's divorce

Sheikha Meriam bint Abdullah Al Khalifa, a member of the Bahraini Royal House of Al-Khalifa, and U.S. Marine Lance Corporal Jason Johnson, made headlines in the late 1990s for their forbidden love affair. In January 1999, the pair met at a mall in Bahrain, where Johnson was stationed as part of a counter-terrorism unit. Despite the fact that Johnson was a Mormon and Al Khalifa was a Muslim, forbidden to marry a non-Muslim, they fell in love.

After being forced to end the relationship by Al Khalifa's family, the couple continued to secretly exchange letters for eleven months until Johnson's tour of duty was scheduled to end. In November 1999, Johnson smuggled Al Khalifa into the United States with the help of fake military transfer documents and a disguise, including a New York Yankees baseball cap. They were married in a Las Vegas chapel on November 16, 1999.

For his role in helping Al Khalifa flee Bahrain, Johnson faced a court-martial and was demoted in rank. Al Khalifa, meanwhile, applied for asylum in the United States, citing fears of honour violence and possible death for her relationship and subsequent marriage to a non-Muslim American. She was eventually granted asylum in May 2001.

The couple's story garnered significant media attention, including appearances on talk shows like *The Oprah Winfrey Show* and a made-for-TV movie, *The Princess and the Marine*. However, their marriage began to falter as Al Khalifa reportedly became interested in the Las Vegas nightlife, often partying with her friends and ignoring Johnson.

On November 17, 2004, one day after their fifth wedding anniversary, Johnson and Al Khalifa filed for divorce, citing "incompatibility in marriage." Johnson later appeared on an episode of *Divorce Court* in January 2005 to plead his case.

As of 2023, Princess Meriam Al-Khalifa is residing in Bahrain, her home country. She maintains a relatively private life but remains actively engaged in philanthropic endeavours and continues to be an influential voice for change, particularly in the field of women's rights.

Meriam's current life in Bahrain

As of 2023, Princess Meriam Al-Khalifa, a member of the Bahraini royal family, resides in Bahrain, her home country. She maintains a relatively private life, but she actively engages in various philanthropic endeavours and is a powerful voice for change in her country.

Princess Meriam is renowned for her humanitarian efforts, particularly in the field of women's rights. She played a pivotal role in advocating for the Bahraini Women's Union and has been instrumental in empowering women through education and employment opportunities. She holds a degree in International Relations from Harvard University, which has equipped her with the tools to address complex societal issues and shape policies that promote equality and justice.

Beyond her activism, Princess Meriam is an avid sports enthusiast. She actively promotes sports as a means to empower individuals and foster social cohesion. Her involvement in various sports initiatives has encouraged young Bahrainis to pursue their athletic aspirations. She believes that sports can positively impact society and bring people together.

Additionally, Princess Meriam is deeply committed to preserving Bahrain's rich cultural heritage. She actively supports initiatives that promote traditional arts, crafts, and music, ensuring that the country's unique identity is treasured and celebrated. She recognises the importance of cultural preservation and strives to protect Bahrain's cultural legacy for future generations.

Princess Meriam's remarkable contributions have garnered international recognition and accolades. She has received numerous awards, including the prestigious Global Champion for Gender Equality Award, for her relentless efforts in advocating for women's rights. She has also been honoured with the Human Rights Defender Award and the Women's Empowerment Changemaker Award.

While Princess Meriam occasionally makes public appearances to support causes she is passionate about, she generally maintains a private life. She does not have any public social media accounts and prefers to keep a low profile. Her future aspirations and projects remain undisclosed, but her commitment to empowering women, advocating for human rights, and promoting social justice is expected to continue shaping her endeavours.

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