Detained in Dubai is assisting Miss Brooke George, a 23 year old TikToker and former John Lewis worker from Gravesend, Kent who has been charged in Dubai with the murder of a 26 year old British man she met online. The young woman has been charged with premeditated murder and faces the firing squad if convicted.
Brooke George, 23, from Gravesend, Kent, met a 26 year old man on Facebook and travelled to Dubai after developing an online relationship. According to Miss George, her first visit lasted about a week and was positive, describing it as “the time of my life”. She was wrapped up in the joy of the experience, brushing aside concerns over the professional photography shoot her new beau had arranged.
During her second visit, however, Brooke saw his behaviour change dramatically. She alleges he became increasingly controlling and abusive, and that she discovered he had only booked her a one way ticket, leaving her alarmed and wanting to return home. According to Brooke, after an evening at Caffreys Bar in Jumeirah Village, he became intoxicated and assaulted her in the car before continuing the attack after they returned to the apartment.
According to her family, Brooke contacted them in a state of panic after being repeatedly punched. Desperate to leave the UAE, she arranged a flight home with help from friends and returned to the apartment solely to recover her passport. She found her personal possessions sprawled over the apartment. The family say she was crying and begging for her passport's return when she was punched hard in the face and attacked. Brooke says she feared for her life and, reaching for a kitchen knife within her grasp, acted in self defence.
A bruised and battered Brooke was arrested in the early hours of the 22nd of June 2026, and has been charged with murder despite the circumstances having not been thoroughly investigated. According to her family, Brooke immediately left the apartment in an attempt to escape and leave the UAE. They say she believed only that she needed to get away and get home. She was in a state of shock and had visible bruising and injuries to her face and body when she was stopped at the airport.
She is currently being held at the notorious Bur Dubai Police Station where Lee Bradley Brown was killed due to police violence. Miss George has been 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.
She has received little explanation of the proceedings due to the language barrier. She has been deprived of access to her embassy and forced to make statements in the absence of a lawyer.
Extract of Statement of Thereza George, Mother of Brooke George.
“After Brooke returned to Dubai for the second time, the dynamic between them had clearly changed.
“The day before the incident, she did not seem like herself. She was quieter and not her usual happy, cheerful self, but she did not tell me why. That evening they went to a bar in Dubai. When I spoke to Brooke right after the incident, she was absolutely terrified. I have never seen my daughter so frightened in my life. She was crying uncontrollably. I could see that one of her eyes was badly swollen and was beginning to close.
“As Brooke's mother, 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.”
Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai, said: "This case raises serious concerns about violence against women, the right to self defence, due process and the treatment of British nationals detained overseas. Brooke maintains that she acted only after being subjected to a violent assault and in genuine fear for her safety. She should be treated not merely as an accused person, but as a presumed victim of violence whose allegations and documented injuries deserve proper investigation. We will be working to ensure that her rights are protected, that she receives a fair trial, and that the circumstances leading to this tragedy are fully and impartially examined.
“Over recent years, there have been increasing reports of women, including social media influencers, models and young travellers, being lured to Dubai with promises of luxury lifestyles, paid work, holidays or romantic relationships, only to later allege that they were subjected to forced attendance at porta-potty parties, sexual exploitation, coercion, violence or other degrading treatment. International organisations and law enforcement agencies have documented cases in which women were recruited under false pretences for the purpose of exploitation, including trafficking.
“Those closest to Brooke became increasingly concerned that she may have been lured to Dubai under false pretences for the purpose of exploitation. Their concerns were fuelled by his unexplained change in behaviour, the one way ticket, the bikini clad professional photo shoot arranged during her first visit, the alleged withholding of her passport, Brooke telling friends that 'things weren't right', and her growing fear that she needed to escape. Brooke reported seeing disturbing videos on his computer and being assaulted by him before the fatal incident.
“Given these allegations, we urge the UAE authorities to preserve and forensically examine all electronic devices, computers, mobile phones, online accounts and digital communications connected with the deceased and any associates, to determine whether Brooke was targeted for exploitation and whether others may also have been victims.
“We are calling for Brooke to be released on bail pending the outcome of the investigation. The UAE has a well documented history of criminalising and revictimising women who report violence. Victims of rape have previously faced prosecution for offences such as sex outside marriage, while Irish national Tori Towey was detained after attempting to flee alleged domestic abuse.
“The authorities must investigate Brooke's allegations with the same seriousness as the allegation against her. Multiple witnesses observed visible injuries immediately after the incident. Rather than treating Brooke solely as a murder suspect, investigators must also examine her being the victim of serious violence and possible exploitation. She should be afforded protection, appropriate medical care, legal representation and immediate British consular assistance while the investigation proceeds.”
