EXCLUSIVE: A British woman who has been charged with premeditated murder could face the death penalty in Dubai. But she claims she acted in self defence. Now, a human rights activist tells the Mirror exactly what she will endure in prison
Brooke George, 23, claims she acted in self defence(Image: INSTAGRAM)
A British woman facing the death penalty after allegedly stabbing a man to death in Dubai is “living the fight of her life” and “may not receive a fair trial”, according to a human rights activist who endured the emirate’s prison system himself.
Brooke George, 23, from Gravesend, Kent, has been charged with premeditated murder after allegedly fatally stabbing a 26-year-old British man in Dubai. She insists she acted in self-defence after suffering repeated domestic abuse from the man she met online, and now faces a possible death sentence if convicted.
Her family say she had booked a flight home after becoming frightened of the man, who they allege withheld her passport to stop her leaving the UAE. They claim he punched her in the face when she demanded it back, prompting her to grab a kitchen knife in fear for her life.
After her arrest, George claims she was denied a lawyer, “forced to strip naked in front of male officers, without any female officers present”. She described the experience as “deeply humiliating and distressing, breaking down in tears when recounting it to her family”.
Now David Haigh, a British human rights activist and founder of Detained International, has warned that her chances of proving self-defence could be severely hampered by what he describes as fundamental flaws in the UAE’s criminal justice system.
Haigh, who spent 22 months imprisoned in Dubai after being convicted of fraud offences he denies, said: “Someone has been killed, someone has been implicated and it’s a terrible situation. But the reality is the system is not fit for purpose.
“Where she’s being held is horrific, and that’s not an understatement. Basic human protections aren’t there, whether you’re innocent or guilty.”
He said foreign detainees are often pressured into signing Arabic-language statements they cannot understand.
“They tell you what you’ve done,” he said. “You’re supposed to have a translator, but 95 percent of the time you won’t. People sign because they’re terrified.”
Ms George claims she stabbed the man only after being violently assaulted. But Haigh fears a self-defence argument will face significant obstacles.
“If it comes from a woman, you’re already deemed a lower-class citizen,” he added. “In the rest of the world, a genuine self-defence claim would require a detailed investigation. In Dubai, you can forget about that.”
He continued: “She’s not going to get a fair investigation. In England, you’d sit down with your lawyer and go through every detail of your case. Over there, she might get five minutes through a small hole in a prison door, if she’s lucky.”
Under the UAE criminal procedure law, the public prosecution leads investigations, and a defendant’s lawyer can be restricted from attending or accessing full case files during early questioning if the prosecutor deems it necessary for the investigation’s interest. The defense typically secures full access to evidence as trial dates approach.
Although the death penalty remains a possible sentence under UAE law, Haigh believes executions of Western nationals are uncommon. “The possibility alone is terrifying,” he said. “They don’t use it often against Westerners, but it is there, and that fear is very real.”
Instead, he argues investigators should thoroughly examine Ms George’s allegations of abuse, including any medical evidence, witness testimony and the history of the relationship.
“If this happened in England, there would be medical reports, witness statements and proper prosecutors investigating both sides,” he said. “She should be treated as someone whose allegations deserve to be properly investigated.”
Haigh, who now campaigns on behalf of foreign nationals detained in the Gulf state, said he was particularly worried because Ms George is a woman.
“Women are not protected there,” he claimed. “It’s not the place for single or married women. If a woman is in jail, I feel terribly worried for her because it will be horrific.”
Drawing on his own imprisonment, he described what he believes Ms George could now be experiencing.
“She’ll be terrified and isolated,” he said. “She won’t know what’s going on because nothing will be translated. She could be threatened, blackmailed, and when a case gets media attention there’s a possibility she’ll be placed in solitary confinement.”
He added that the 23-year-old is likely living in “squalor conditions”, with a lack of basic facilities like clean toilets and sanitary products for women. “She’ll be forced to cover up and walk around barefoot,” he said.
Haigh also urged Ms George’s family not to lose hope. “Don’t give up. Defend your daughter and keep fighting,” he said. “Find a good local lawyer, but be very careful who you trust. It is the fight of this young girl’s life.”
He also called on the Foreign Office to play a more active role in supporting British nationals facing the most serious charges overseas.
“When somebody is facing life imprisonment or the death sentence, the Foreign Office needs to do far more than it currently does,” he said. “They need to make sure the process is fair, check on their welfare and help them build the evidence they need for their defence.”
Ms George’s case has attracted international attention after Detained in Dubai alleged she was strip-searched by male officers, denied access to legal representation during questioning and forced to make statements without a lawyer present. Dubai authorities have not publicly commented on those allegations.
Under the UAE criminal procedure law, the public prosecution leads investigations, and a defendant’s lawyer can be restricted from attending or accessing full case files during early questioning if the prosecutor deems it necessary for the investigation’s interest. The defense typically secures full access to evidence as trial dates approach.
Haigh believes the case exposes what he sees as a stark contrast between Dubai’s international image and the reality experienced by some foreign detainees. “They spend an enormous amount on PR,” he said. “People see the glamour, but they don’t see what can happen if you end up inside the justice system.”
Ms George’s family said she was arrested on June 22 when she tried to leave the country. Thereza George, Ms George’s mother, told The Telegraph: “I am deeply concerned for her welfare. The daughter I spoke to that night was utterly terrified. I firmly believe she was desperately trying to get home and away from whatever had happened to her.”
A Foreign Office spokesperson told the Mirror: “We are in touch with a British woman detained in the UAE, we are supporting her family, and we are in contact with the local authorities.”
