A 23-year-old British TikTok influencer charged with the murder of her boyfriend in Dubai is facing the death penalty by firing squad, according to advocacy group Detained in Dubai. Brooke George, from Gravesend, Kent, was arrested on 22 June and charged with premeditated murder after a stabbing incident involving her partner, whom she met online.
Charges and Alleged Self-Defense
Detained in Dubai stated that George claims she acted in self-defense during a violent attack by her partner. She allegedly grabbed a kitchen knife after he punched her, withheld her passport, and attacked her again at their apartment. The organization is calling for her release on bail and for the case to be treated as domestic violence rather than murder.
Radha Stirling, chief executive of Detained in Dubai, said: “She claimed she feared for her life and, reaching for a kitchen knife within her grasp, acted in self defense.”
Alleged Mistreatment in Custody
While held at Bur Dubai Police Station, George alleges she was forced to strip naked in front of male officers without a female officer present, describing the experience as “deeply humiliating and distressing.” Detained in Dubai also said she was denied access to her embassy and had to make statements without a lawyer present.
Background of the Relationship
George, a former John Lewis employee, had visited Dubai twice. She described her first trip as “the time of my life.” However, according to Stirling, the relationship turned abusive during the second visit. Her mother, Thereza George, noted a change in her daughter’s demeanor before the incident: “The day before the incident, she did not seem like herself. She was quieter and not her usual happy, cheerful self.”
After the incident, her mother said George was “absolutely terrified” and had a badly swollen eye. “I firmly believe she was desperately trying to get home and away from whatever had happened to her,” her mother added.
Concerns of Exploitation
Stirling raised concerns that George may have been “lured to Dubai under false pretences for the purpose of exploitation,” citing a one-way ticket, a bikini-clad professional photo shoot during her first visit, and the alleged withholding of her passport. Friends reported George saying “things weren’t right” and that she needed to escape.
Calls for Justice and Support
Stirling said: “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.” The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office confirmed it is supporting a British woman detained in the UAE and her family.
