The $30 million gamble that went horribly wrong

A 27-year-old British father has spent seven months locked up in a Dubai prison,where he claims he was threatened with having his hands broken before having his teeth pulled out by Emirati prison guards.

Ryan Pepper, from Ashford in Kent, has allegedly been assaulted, threatened, and psychologically abused while imprisoned in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to Detained in Dubai.

The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has been unable to ascertain the reasons for Pepper's detention, the group said.

Who is the unnamed buyer?

The UAE government has refused to disclose the identity of the buyer who allegedly kidnapped and robbed detainees, including Ryan Pepper.

Detained in Dubai has raised urgent concerns regarding arbitrary detention, torture allegations, and the wider treatment of British nationals in UAE custody.

The group suspects that embassy interactions are being monitored, and are not conducted privately.

What auditors flagged in the May filing

According to Detained in Dubai , British Embassy diplomats met Ryan Pepper on February 16, but UAE officials were present, supervising the meeting .

The group claimed that British authorities then made an unexpected visit to the detention centre on May 25, where they had an unsupervised meeting with Pepper,during which he discussed his alleged mistreatment.

Chloe said the family no longer trust official reassurances regarding his health and safety.

A familiar pattern from the 2019 crash

Ryan Pepper's case echoes the 2019 crash of a British citizen in a UAE prison, where the individual was subjected to similar treatment.

Detained in Dubai has brought up Pepper's case directly with the United Nations Special Rapporteur on torture, as well as the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.

The group suspects that the UAE government is using its detention centre as a tool for extortion and coercion.

Broader context

Ryan Pepper's case is part of a larger trend of British nationals being detained and mistreated in UAE prisons.

The UAE government has a history of using its detention centres as a means of silencing critics and suppressing dissent.

Detained in Dubai has raised concerns regarding the UAE government's treatment of British nationals, including allegations of torture, arbitrary detention, and extortion.

Open questions

Who is the unnamed buyer who allegedly kidnapped and robbed detainees,including Ryan Pepper?

What is the true extent of the UAE government's involvement in Ryan Pepper's detention and mistreatment?

Will the British government take action to protect its citizens from the UAE government's detention centre?