A young woman from Liverpool has been sentenced to life in prison in Dubai after what her family describes as a “very stupid mistake.”
Mia O’Brien, 23, from Huyton, is currently being held in the city’s central prison in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Her family has issued a desperate appeal for help, saying they are devastated by the outcome.
Her mother, Danielle McKenna, said she has not seen her daughter since October last year and described the ordeal as “absolutely devastating.”
“Mia has never done a bad thing in her life,” Danielle said. “She studied law at university, but unfortunately got involved with the wrong people and made a terrible mistake. Now she is paying the price.”
The family initially launched a GoFundMe page to help cover legal fees and travel expenses so they could visit Mia in Dubai, but the fundraiser has since been deleted without explanation. Before it was taken down, Danielle thanked supporters for their donations, saying the funds would go towards legal costs and helping the family see Mia again.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Danielle revealed that her daughter has recently been transferred to another prison following the life sentence. “It’s been a massive shock,” she said, adding that Mia is struggling with the situation.
In the UAE, a life sentence for non-Emirati citizens typically amounts to 25 years in prison, followed by deportation. The family has not disclosed the exact offence, but life sentences in the UAE are commonly issued for crimes such as drug trafficking or possession, human trafficking, murder, attempted murder, or terrorism-related charges.
The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCDO) has repeatedly warned British nationals about the strict drug laws in the UAE. Even traces of drugs in the bloodstream can be considered possession.
The FCDO advises that penalties for offences involving drugs—including trafficking, smuggling, or use—are extremely severe, with trafficking charges carrying the possibility of the death penalty.
Featured image credit: GoFundMe
