Horrific conditions of prison British student held in after ‘very stupid mistake’ led to life sentence

A young British woman named Mia O’Brien, from Liverpool, has been sentenced to spend the rest of her life in prison in Dubai. She is only 23 years old, and her family say she made what they call a “very stupid mistake” that has now cost her her freedom. The exact crime she was convicted of has not been made public.

Mia’s mother, Danielle, said she is devastated. She last saw her daughter in October of last year and has been desperate for answers. She set up a fundraising page, which has since been taken down, to try to cover legal costs and travel expenses. In her words, Mia was a normal young woman who went to university to study law, but she fell in with the wrong crowd and one bad choice has destroyed her future.

For a time, Mia was held in Dubai’s Al-Awir Central Prison, a place that has been widely condemned by human rights groups for its brutal conditions. Reports describe it as overcrowded, dirty, and extremely harsh. Former prisoners say that if you are lucky, you might get a bed, but many are forced to sleep on filthy blankets on the floor. Meals are basic—mostly rice—and are served at strict times: breakfast at 5 a.m., lunch at 11 a.m., and supper at 5 p.m.

David Haigh, a British man who once spent nearly two years inside the same prison, has described it as “hell.” He said the stench, the heat, and the filth were unbearable, and he lived under the constant fear of abuse. Haigh claims he was tortured and raped by guards and often witnessed other inmates being beaten in front of everyone. In one horrifying account, he said three guards dragged a man in from the street, threw him to the ground, and pressed their boots on his neck.

Mia has since been moved to another prison, but her time in Al-Awir would have been deeply traumatic. Her family, speaking through the media, say she is “going through it” and struggling to cope.

Life sentences in Dubai can be given for crimes like drug trafficking, terrorism, or serious violence. The UAE has very strict drug laws, and even small offences can lead to extremely harsh punishments, including the death penalty. The UK government has long warned travelers to Dubai to be aware of this zero-tolerance policy.

For Mia’s loved ones, the situation is a nightmare. Her mother is heartbroken, describing the news as a massive shock, and the family is still trying to come to terms with what her future now holds.