UK Law Student Sentenced to 25 Years in Dubai for Drug Offense

A 23-year-old law student from the United Kingdom, Mia O’Brien, has received a 25-year prison sentence in Dubai following a cocaine possession charge. O’Brien was apprehended with 50 grams of the drug at an apartment in the city, according to her mother, Danielle McKenna. In addition to her lengthy prison term, O’Brien was also ordered to pay a fine of $136,000.

McKenna expressed her deep distress over the situation, stating that O’Brien pleaded not guilty and that the judicial process lacked fairness. “They don’t have a just trial over there,” McKenna said. The trial proceedings were conducted in Arabic, and O’Brien learned of her sentence through her lawyer, leaving her in a state of shock. “She is absolutely devastated by what has happened,” McKenna added.

O’Brien was studying law at the University of Liverpool prior to her arrest and had aspirations of becoming a solicitor. Her mother described the incident as a “stupid mistake,” indicating that O’Brien had traveled to Dubai to visit friends and was not aware she was carrying drugs. “She was caught with cocaine in an apartment,” McKenna elaborated, noting that two other individuals were also charged with drug-related offenses.

Conditions in Dubai’s Central Prison

Currently, O’Brien is being held at Dubai’s Central Prison, which is notorious for its harsh conditions. Reports from Human Rights Watch indicate that rape and violence are frequent occurrences within the facility. “Mia said she has to sleep on a mattress on the floor and shares the cell with six others,” her mother reported. These conditions have led to significant concerns regarding the safety and wellbeing of inmates.

The prison is characterized by overcrowded cells and a lack of adequate staff. “She has to bang on a big door if she needs anything,” McKenna explained, highlighting the dire living conditions. O’Brien’s mother also noted that her daughter has witnessed violent altercations among inmates and has expressed fear for her safety.

As O’Brien prepares to appeal her sentence in the coming weeks, her mother has faced difficulties in raising funds for legal expenses. A GoFundMe campaign intended to support her daughter’s appeal was terminated for violating the platform’s terms. Consequently, McKenna has resorted to sharing her bank details on social media to solicit assistance.

The case of Mia O’Brien raises important questions about the treatment of prisoners in Dubai and the legal rights of foreign nationals in a foreign judicial system. As her appeal process unfolds, O’Brien’s situation continues to attract attention and concern from her family and supporters back in the UK.