Get you up to speed: Anguished voice of British dad ‘tortured in Dubai jail’ after new abuse claims emerge | News World
Ryan Pepper, a 27-year-old British father from Ashford, Kent, has alleged torture and mistreatment while detained in a Dubai jail since his arrest on November 3, 2025. The British embassy has confirmed seeing his injuries, including broken teeth, but authorities have not disclosed the reason for his detention.
Ryan Pepper was arrested in the UAE on November 3, 2025, and has been recently moved from Al Gharb Police Station to Sharjah Central Prison. British embassy officials have documented Ryan’s injuries and confirmed that his case has been raised directly with local authorities, although his family remains unclear about the reasons for his detention.
The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) confirmed it is in contact with Ryan Pepper’s family and is raising his case with UAE authorities. Activist Radha Stirling has called for the UAE to “safeguard Ryan’s welfare,” while his family remains uncertain about his future following his transfer to Sharjah Central Prison.
What remains unclear — It is not known why Ryan Pepper was detained in the UAE or what charges he may face.
British father claims torture in Dubai jail amid new abuse allegations
This is the anguished voice of a British father who has allegedly faced torture inside a Dubai jail.
Ryan Pepper, 27, claimed United Arab Emirates (UAE) officials threatened to smash his hands if he didn’t sign paperwork in Arabic, a language he doesn’t understand.
This is the first time Ryan’s voice has been heard publicly since allegations surfaced that he has been beaten, threatened and psychologically abused after he was arrested more than seven months ago.
WTX can now reveal that British embassy officials have seen Ryan’s injuries – including his broken teeth – first-hand, prompting his sister to beg the UK to do more to free her brother.
Ryan Pepper’s family are begging for the UAE to preserve his welfare
We can also report fresh details about the alleged mistreatment he has faced, including days of near-total sleep deprivation.
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Ryan, a dad-of-two from Ashford, Kent, was arrested and locked up in a UAE ‘hell hole’ on November 3, 2025.
He had moved out to the UAE to start a new life after a marital breakdown and was working as a sales officer.
His family do not know why he was detained, and they believe the Foreign Office does not know either.
In brief phone calls with his sister, Chloe, and through a note allegedly smuggled out of police detention, Ryan has claimed he was beaten and kept in overcrowded conditions.
A recording of Ryan’s voice – obtained by WTX – shows him talking about his alleged mistreatment by UAE officials.
The dad-of-two says: ‘We signed paperwork, we don’t know what we signed. It was all in Arabic.
Chloe has spoken with Ryan over the phone where he described his treatment in the detention centre
‘They threatened to break our hands if we did not sign that… we have no idea what we signed.
‘None of us speak Arabic and they would not give us a translation.’
His sister Chloe Pepper, who has begged for proof that Ryan is safe, told WTX that Ryan’s treatment in jail was ‘absolutely awful’.
She added: ‘Torture shouldn’t happen. He has said he is innocent and they have no evidence.’
In an email seen by WTX, staff wrote ‘officials observed injuries (that) included a bandage on the right side of Ryan’s head and his front teeth were partially broken.’
Embassy workers also confirmed that Ryan ‘described the events leading to his initial arrest’.
‘He said he was initially taken to Dubai Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for questioning, then to his apartment where he said that officers caused damage, and then to another location where he was physically assaulted and held in solitary confinement.’
Ryan was ‘distressed when recounting these events’, officials noted, adding a doctor had seen Ryan and advised no follow-up was needed.
A note allegedly smuggled out of the prison claimed that ‘everyone was beaten up’.
(Picture: supplied to WTX)
‘I want British officials to actually help’
Sister Chloe, a 24-year-old nail technician from Kent, claims that despite seeing the injuries, British officials ‘do not seem like they care’ and is shocked they have been unable to secure his release.
She told WTX: ‘I want them [British officials] to actually help.
‘They constantly say, “If he’s got issues, need to raise it with the authorities”.
‘But they tortured him, why would he raise issues with people that hurt him? I think the UK doesn’t want to mess with Dubai, because Dubai might have their own laws.’
The family’s local MP, Sojan Joseph, has also demanded that Foreign Office and British officials secure his freedom.
The Ashford MP, who has written to the government about this and spoken with Chloe, told WTX: ‘Any violence towards Ryan and other British citizens should not be taking place, and I hope to see Ryan’s situation resolved swiftly by the embassy and FCDO officials so he can be returned safely.
‘My thoughts are with his family and friends at this very difficult time.’
WTX understand that Ryan’s case has been raised directly by Britain’s ambassador in the UAE and with Foreign Office officials in Dubai.
Ryan’s two children are waiting for his return back home
Ryan’s family and supporters are also making fresh claims about the abuse he has allegedly suffered inside UAE detention.
Chloe claims that Ryan told her he was held in small tiled isolation rooms, where they were kept for days without daylight.
He alleges he was held in these rooms under constant bright yellow humming lights that made sleep nearly impossible for as long as 92 days.
His family also claims that CCTV cameras were switched off every 15 minutes at the request of CID officers so staff could remove the prisoner from their cells.
Ryan’s family have also been told that he has now been moved from Al Gharb Police Station to Sharjah Central Prison, prompting fears about what will come next.
‘Our family continues to live in fear and uncertainty’
Chloe said: ‘We are hoping court will happen now that he has been moved.
‘At least if he is charged we would know what we are looking at and get some closure, but at the moment we know nothing.’
She has also written to the UAE ambassador to the UK, His Excellency Mansoor Abdullah Khalfan Juma Abulhoul, to beg for her brother’s safe return.
The letter, which has not had a response, says they are writing to the UAE ‘out of desperation, concern, and with nowhere else left to turn.’
Chloe continued: ‘Our family continues to live in fear and uncertainty surrounding his welfare, health, and future.
‘We respectfully ask whether Ryan’s situation can please be looked into and whether anything within your power may be done to ensure that he is safe, treated humanely, receiving appropriate medical care, and afforded dignity and fairness whilst detained.’
Chloe also wrote to the UAE Ambassador about her brother’s case but heard nothing
Radha Stirling, founder of Detained in Dubai, who is assisting the Pepper family, said the UAE ‘must safeguard Ryan’s welfare now.’
She continued: ‘The UAE has cast its investigative net dangerously wide, subjecting British, American and other foreign detainees to coercive interrogations, extortion, humiliation, abuse and torture.
‘It is unacceptable for Western democracies to be expanding technology, trade and security partnerships with a country that tortures our citizens.’
Detained in Dubai has also raised his case with the United Nations Special Rapporteur on torture, as well as the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.
Neither group has responded to the reports about his case.
Although Ryan has no idea why he was arrested, Stirling says that he was detained alongside about 15 people.
She claimed that sometimes authorities arrest dozens of people as they investigate one issue, leaving some innocent people in prison for lengthy periods of time.
An FCDO spokesperson said: ‘We are supporting a British man who is currently detained in the UAE.
‘We are in contact with his family and continue to raise the case directly with the local authorities in the UAE.’
The United Arab Emirates embassy in London has been contacted for comment.
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