Detained in Dubai

26/05/2026

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g4471e2yko

26/05/2026

Ryan Pepper has been beaten & tortured. Listen to a fellow inmate describe his treatment in the UAE. Ryan's case has been raised with the UN & through official channels. Anyone an be detained unfairly during an "investigation", then be beaten & tortured before being released.

26/05/2026

BREAKING: A British father has been detained in the UAE for 7 months without charge. Ryan Pepper has spent 2+ months in solitary confinement & been severely beaten & tortured repeatedly. Through smuggled handwritten notes and eventual phone calls, his pleas have been heard.

20/04/2026

My wife was threatened with r**e in Qatar. I was the one thrown in jail under Cybercrime laws - “This is the issue with the Gulf,” says Radha Stirling. “You can build a whole life, a business and a future, then it can be taken away at the drop of a hat.”

Summary of the Telegraph article: My wife was threatened with r**e in Qatar. I was the one jailed

Craig and Sarah Barratt travelled to Doha in June 2025 after their wedding, with Craig taking up a senior healthcare consultancy role. What began as a work trip quickly turned into a serious legal ordeal.

While staying at the Ritz-Carlton Doha, Sarah was approached by two men at the hotel pool. The interaction escalated into harassment, with one man asking for her room number and making explicit sexual remarks, including telling her he would sleep with her. She felt unsafe and reported the incident.

The hotel’s general manager initially appeared supportive, confirming that CCTV had identified the individuals and apologising. However, days later, the same men reappeared in the hotel. When Sarah raised the issue again, staff allegedly dismissed her concerns, and the hotel denied that any harassment had taken place.

Frustrated, Craig posted a Tripadvisor review warning that the hotel was “unsafe for women.” The review was later removed after the hotel complained.

Nearly a year later, Craig was stopped at Doha airport and informed he had been prosecuted in his absence under Qatar’s cybercrime laws, based on that review. He was fined, sentenced, and later detained again following a failed appeal before being deported.

Craig’s case is all too familiar to Radha Stirling. As the head of Detained in Dubai and its subsidiary, Detained in Doha – a legal organisation dedicated to helping foreign victims of injustice across the Middle East – she deals with around 100 cybercrime cases a year. “The issue is not just the law itself, but the fact that the legal process doesn’t require any evidentiary burden,” she says. “The prosecution will automatically take any complaint all the way, which can result in up to two years in prison.”

Craig says he accepts the local legal framework but criticises Marriott. Stirling notes that while hotels encourage reviews, negative feedback can trigger legal action in the region. “Yet when it’s negative, they always bring a cybercrime case against you. Companies who wouldn’t dream of doing this in America or the UK will absolutely do it in the Middle East. They believe they’re preserving their reputation but in fact it’s the opposite.”

After a failed appeal and legal complications, Craig was detained for several days before deportation. Stirling says this outcome is not unusual. “Anyone with any influence or clout is able to get that sort of thing to happen. He’s lucky it was only four nights.”

Craig now faces a five-year ban from Qatar, effectively ending his career in the region. “This is the issue with the Gulf,” says Stirling. “You can build a whole life, a business and a future, then it can be taken away at the drop of a hat.”

The couple have returned to the UK and are facing significant financial consequences. Craig maintains that his actions were driven by concern for his wife’s safety.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/04/20/my-wife-was-threatened-with-r**e-in-qatar/

20/04/2026

CARTEL boss Daniel Kina­han’s extra­di­tion to Ire­land is likely to be fast-tracked by author­it­ies in Dubai and could hap­pen within days, Radha Stirl­ing, CEO of ‘Detained in Dubai’, has told the Sunday World.

Ms Stirl­ing, an expert in con­test­ing Inter­pol Red Notices in the UAE, said the fact that Kina­han was arres­ted by armed Dubai police within 48 hours of Gardaí provid­ing an extra­di­tion request indic­ates author­it­ies in the Emir­ate want him gone.

She said in cases where author­it­ies in the UAE are eager to forge rela­tions with a gov­ern­ment seek­ing the extra­di­tion of a cit­izen, sub­jects have been put on a plane in the middle of the night and flown home.

Ms Stirl­ing said the car­tel chief would, as a mat­ter of course, have been incar­cer­ated in the notori­ous Dubai Cent­ral Prison, also known as Al Awir, fol­low­ing his arrest.

PRESSURE

This is the same hell­hole prison where Kina­han’s right-hand man Sean McGov­ern was incar­cer­ated last year – ahead of a judi­cial hear­ing to approve his extra­di­tion home to Ire­land.

“There has been a lot of pres­sure applied by west­ern coun­tries on Dubai, which was accused of basic­ally har­bour­ing inter­na­tional crim­in­als,” she said.
“And the UAE was suf­fer­ing as a con­sequence of that.

“The UAE was con­stantly under threat that they were going to be placed on a fin­an­cial black­list, so it has been try­ing to clean up its repu­ta­tion in that regard.
“And, in return for doing so, the UAE has been sign­ing treat­ies with vari­ous coun­tries and extra­dit­ing a lot more people.”

Kina­han (48) was arres­ted in the vicin­ity of the Burj Khal­ifa on Fri­day – fol­low­ing two days of sur­veil­lance by Dubai police.

Ms Stirl­ing con­firmed that the pro­cess to bring Kina­han home could be exped­ited thanks to the new agree­ment between the Irish and Dubai gov­ern­ments.
“We’ve seen extra­di­tions from there recently within peri­ods of as little as 48 hours,” she con­firmed.

“People are being put on planes in the middle of the night with little or no due pro­cess.

“That could eas­ily hap­pen in this case. Or it could hap­pen the other way and drag on for a couple of years.

“It’s very much a quid pro quo when you’re deal­ing with Dubai because, for them, it’s a polit­ical decision at extra­di­tion level.

“It comes down to rela­tion­ship between the two gov­ern­ments.

“So, this (Kina­han’s extra­di­tion) could eas­ily hap­pen in as little as 48 hours.
“And if it does, that’s something I would com­plain about because there should always be due pro­cess when it comes to extra­di­tions.

LAWYERS

“But I saw it very recently in the case of Ulug­bek Shad­manov.
“He was extra­dited within the space of 48 hours, no due pro­cess, his law­yers weren’t informed and he was shoved on a plane and that hap­pens a lot … it’s very nor­mal in Dubai.

“And I would say in this (Kina­han’s) case, it will all hap­pen very quickly.” Cement mag­nate, Mr. Shad­manov, who had been liv­ing in Dubai for sev­eral years, was extra­dited back to Uzbek­istan on Janu­ary 8 with the UAE later being accused of bypassing con­ven­tional judi­cial pro­ceed­ings in doing so.

While the Irish Gov­ern­ment will insist on Kina­han being accor­ded due pro­cess in Dubai prior to extra­di­tion, the UAE’s eager­ness to embrace bilat­eral rela­tions with this coun­try will nev­er­the­less greatly speed up the entire pro­cess.

Evid­ence of the strength of the rela­tion­ship between the Irish Gov­ern­ment and the gov­ern­ment of the UAE was evid­ent in the state­ment issued by Min­is­ter for Justice Jim O’Callaghan fol­low­ing Kina­han’s arrest on Fri­day.

TREATIES

In it, he said: “In recent years, the UAE and Ire­land have worked closely together to advance crim­inal invest­ig­a­tions into ser­i­ous and organ­ised crime, includ­ing the agree­ment of bilat­eral treat­ies on extra­di­tion and mutual legal assist­ance in 2025.
“I have spoken today with my UAE coun­ter­part Min­is­ter of Justice, His Excel­lency Abdul­lah Sul­tan bin Awad Al Nuaimi, to express my thanks and to acknow­ledge the strong judi­cial co-oper­a­tion in crim­inal mat­ters between Ire­land and the UAE.”
Ms. Stirl­ing noted a fea­ture that is “some­what unusual” in Kina­han’s case is that he would clearly have seen his arrest was on the cards.

“Daniel Kina­han would obvi­ously have known that this was com­ing,” she said.
He con­sidered leav­ing the UAE and relo­cat­ing to another coun­try.

“He saw his friend Sean McGov­ern being extra­dited and he would have seen that an extra­di­tion treaty between the UAE and Ire­land had been signed.

“He knew the reason Ire­land signed the treaty was solely to appre­hend him and his asso­ciates.

“So, this had been laid out in front of him for a long time and I think, it’s likely, he has already been in con­tact with a team of law­yers in Ire­land to see what kind of deal he can get for him­self when he gets back.”

Read More: https://www.crimeworld.com/ireland/daniel-kinahan-waits-in-hellhole-dubai-prison-as-extradition-could-happen-within-days/a/146378897.html

15/04/2026

BREAKING Second Flight Attendant Detained in Dubai Over WhatsApp Image as Cybercrime Crackdown Escalates

Authorities admit use of electronic surveillance to track private messages as cabin crew member faces state security case

Dubai / London – Detained in Dubai can confirm that another flight attendant has been detained in Dubai under the UAE’s federal cybercrime laws after sharing an image related to recent regional attacks. In a concerning development, authorities say he was identified through “active electronic surveillance”.

A 32-year-old cabin crew member for Emirates Airlines has been held in custody for over a month following his arrest in the early hours of 8 March. He is currently detained at Al Qusais Police Station but fears he will be transferred to Abu Dhabi, which places him at higher risk of extended detention and lengthier sentences if convicted.

According to his family, the young man had only just returned to Dubai after being stranded abroad due to flight disruptions and had not seen or been made aware of any official warnings or restrictions regarding the sharing of images or information. A simple date specific Google search shows how little published information there was at the time.

In the early hours of 7 March, after being woken by a loud explosion and feeling his room shake, the cabin crew employee took a single photograph on his phone and shared it privately via WhatsApp with colleagues, asking whether it was safe to leave for work or remain where he was. He did not publish the image publicly or intend to cause alarm. The image was subsequently forwarded by others.

Despite this, he has been treated as a serious criminal suspect, accused of offences relating to state security and public order.

Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai, said “This is not someone spreading misinformation or attempting to undermine the state. He was reacting to what he believed was a dangerous situation. He had just arrived back in the country, had not seen any warnings, and simply shared an image privately with colleagues to ask if it was safe to go to work.

“Authorities have confirmed that they identified Sergey through active electronic surveillance, tracked him down, and asked him to attend a police station for what was described as a ‘chat’, where he was then arrested. This raises serious concerns about the monitoring of private communications and the treatment of ordinary residents as security threats.

“We are seeing a disturbing pattern where individuals who are effectively victims of regional instability are being criminalised for their reactions to it. This long-term Emirates employee is not a threat to national security. He is a loyal worker with no criminal history and someone who clearly meant no harm.

“Just last week, a British Emirates employee was released, but the consequences remain severe. Former detainees are not only recovering from the trauma of being in prison for several weeks, but many have also lost their jobs.

“It is deeply concerning that a split-second reaction in a frightening situation can lead to detention, loss of employment, and long-term restrictions on travel across the region.”

Stirling added that many residents and visitors would not have been aware of restrictions, particularly in the immediate aftermath of the incidents.

“The UAE government is pushing the narrative that ‘they should have known’. Why? This man had just returned to Dubai after being out of the country. His employer, state-owned Emirates Airlines, provided no guidance, and warnings were not widely circulated at the time. We are talking about the very early days of the situation.

“Dubai risks creating an environment where people are afraid to communicate even privately during emergencies. Treating residents like hardened criminals for momentary, human reactions is disproportionate and damaging.”

Detained in Dubai calls on Emirates Airlines to take an active role in assisting their staff members and for Dubai police to release prisoners who are clearly not a threat, warning that the continued detention of individuals under such circumstances raises serious concerns about due process and the application of cybercrime laws.

The organisation continues to receive reports of similar arrests linked to the sharing of images or information, including private communications, in the aftermath of recent attacks.

13/04/2026

'DON'T move to Dubai!' British expat's warning after he moved to UAE for dream life and went from driving around in a Rolls to being tortured by police who broke his fingers

When 63-year-old Albert Douglas landed at Heathrow airport after four years languishing in prison in Dubai, the first thing he did was kiss the ground.

Radha Stirling, the founder of Detained in Dubai who supported the family throughout the case, told the Daily Mail: 'As an expert witness, I have testified that success makes you more vulnerable in Dubai.

'Investors become targets in a system that allows baseless allegations to be used as a premise to strip entrepreneurs of their assets, wealth and their freedom.

'The lack of transparency, fair trials, and the prevalence of arbitrary detention, discrimination and human rights abuses are the reasons UK courts have continuously refused extradition requests, and why so many entrepreneurs have found themselves behind bars in what is promoted as a safe investment hub.'

She said that if someone wants to steal your assets and money in Dubai, all they need to do is make a complaint at a police station.

'Due to the lack of judicial process and entrenched corruption within law enforcement, that is often all that is required. The UN has now cleared Albert and his son but it’s not enough. They are seeking real accountability.'

When 63-year-old Albert Douglas landed at Heathrow airport after four years languishing in prison in Dubai, the first thing he did was kiss the ground.

12/04/2026

BREAKING: A 60-year-old British Londoner detained in Dubai has now been released.

After weeks of uncertainty, this will come as enormous relief to those affected. The ordeal has been distressing and financially draining, with serious consequences for those caught up in these cases.

This was one of several cases raised with UK authorities following sustained diplomatic efforts.

Others remain behind bars, and new cases continue to emerge, including arrests over something as simple as taking photographs on the beach.

The wider situation remains deeply concerning.

12/04/2026

BREAKING: A British cabin crew member detained in Dubai under cybercrime laws has been freed. I confirm he is now safely back in England.

This has been a serious and costly ordeal for those affected.

But this is not over. I continue to represent others still detained, and new arrests are still happening, even over something as simple as taking photos on the beach.

More to come

11/04/2026

Radha Stirling has finalised an expert report in Texas 🇺🇸 to prevent the deportation of a woman at risk of being targeted by the UAE over her husband's business bankruptcy. In the Emirates, wives have been listed on INTERPOL and detained for years without conviction for their husbands’ debts!

This is not an isolated concern. In the Emirates, it is well established that wives and family members can be used as leverage in financial and commercial disputes. We have seen numerous cases where women have been arrested, placed on travel bans, or even listed on INTERPOL systems, not because of any wrongdoing of their own, but simply due to their association with a spouse.

In some cases, women have been detained for years without conviction, effectively held as bargaining chips in disputes relating to debts, business failures, or financial claims. These practices raise serious concerns under international human rights law, including the prohibition on imprisonment for debt and protections against arbitrary detention. In some of these cases, family members have been told the woman will be sexually assaulted and r**ed.

Deporting individuals into such a system carries profound risks.

Radha Stirling is a highly regarded expert witness who has provided crucial testimony in a wide range of legal matters, including extradition cases, Interpol Red Notice disputes, civil and immigration proceedings, inquests, and government inquiries. Her deep expertise in international legal systems,...