A 23-year-old British woman has been sentenced to life in prison in Dubai, her family revealed tonight.
Mia O’Brien, from Huyton, Liverpool, “made a very stupid mistake,” according to her mother Danielle McKenna, who has launched an emotional fundraising plea to cover travel and legal costs.
“Mia has been given a life sentence over in Dubai and she is now in central prison,” her mother wrote in the GoFundMe post.
“As you can all probably imagine, as her mother I am absolutely devastated. I haven’t seen my daughter since last October,” she said.
“Mia is only 23 years old and has never done a bad thing in her life. This is a young girl, who went to university to do law, and unfortunately got mixed up in the wrong so-called friends and made a very stupid mistake and is now paying the price.”
She added: “So all I ask is if you can donate anything you can spare, even if it’s a £1, it could help us massively and I would be forever grateful. Thank you so much.”
Later, Danielle thanked supporters: “I just want to thank everyone for their donations so far, this money will be used to send to my daughter Mia, and also for any legal fees that may arise, and maybe even to go towards getting family over to Dubai to see her, as none of us have seen Mia since last October, so thank you all so much”.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Danielle said: “She’s going through it at the minute. She’s just been transferred to another prison after getting a life sentence.”
It is not yet known what Mia O’Brien has been convicted of. However, in the UAE, life sentences, typically around 15 years, can be handed down for drug trafficking depending on circumstances and quantity. Other offences that attract life terms include serious violence and terrorism.
The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s website warns visitors: “There is zero tolerance for drug-related offences. The penalties for trafficking, smuggling, using and possessing illegal drugs (including residual amounts) are severe.”
Sentences for drug trafficking can include the death penalty, and possession of even small amounts, including cannabis, can result in minimum prison terms or heavy fines. The authorities treat presence of drugs in the bloodstream as possession.
Some herbal products and those containing cannabidiol (CBD) are illegal in the UAE. Carrying drugs, even residual amounts, can lead to arrest, including at airports where advanced scanning detects illegal substances.
An FCDO spokesperson said: “We are supporting the family of a British woman detained in the UAE and are in contact with the local authorities.”
The fundraising appeal, seeking £1,600, has raised nearly £700 before it was cancelled.
“It was removed because it violates Term 9 of the Prohibited Conduct section in our Terms of Service,” a GoFundMe spokesperson told The Sun.
“Term 9 prohibits raising funds on GoFundMe for the legal defence of certain alleged crimes.”
https://thewest.com.au/news/world/mia-obrien-british-23-year-old-jailed-for-life-in-dubai-after-stupid-mistake-mother-appeals-for-help-c-19927924
