Brooke George’s mother says she is growing increasingly alarmed about her daughter’s mental state as the 23-year-old British influencer remains locked inside a notorious Dubai detention centre without reliable phone access.
Tess, whose last name was not reported, told advocacy group Detained in Dubai that recent calls with George at the Bur Dubai police detention centre were cut off after roughly two minutes and that the Kent native has now been forbidden from making international calls altogether. “She can’t sleep,” Tess said. “She can barely call home. I’m getting very worried about her mental state.”
The content creator, known for posting beauty routines and lip-syncing videos, was arrested at Dubai International Airport in June after travelling to meet William Treeby, 26, a man she had connected with online. She was charged with murder following Treeby’s fatal stabbing, a crime punishable by death in the UAE, potentially by firing squad. George maintains she acted in self-defence after Treeby allegedly became controlling and abusive during her second visit to the emirate, attacking her during an argument that she says turned violent before she grabbed a kitchen knife.
At her latest hearing last Wednesday, prosecution witnesses failed to appear, forcing the court to adjourn the trial until 28 October and order George’s continued detention while it awaits remaining witness evidence. The delay means at least several more weeks inside a facility that Detained in Dubai said was “never designed for long-term habitation.”
Radha Stirling, founder of Detained in Dubai, said George is “suffering terribly” and growing “increasingly upset” as her isolation deepens. “Her mother is left wondering how much worse things will become before she hears her daughter’s voice again,” Stirling explained. “Two minutes on the telephone, followed by an abrupt disconnection, is distressing for everyone involved.”
Stirling continued: “For Brooke, those calls are a lifeline. For her family, they are the only opportunity to hear how she is coping and offer some reassurance.”
The campaign group noted that British citizens briefly held at the same facility during Iran strikes were terrified by even hours inside, let alone the months George has endured.
During her scarce communications with her mother, George has described conditions that make rest impossible. Bright lights blaze in every room around the clock, and the cries of babies and children nearby compound the disruption. She was reportedly promised sleep medication but has yet to receive any, according to campaigners.
Stirling has demanded immediate intervention regardless of the trial schedule. “Her health cannot be put on hold until the next court hearing,” she stated. The organisation said it is pressing for George to receive medical care, clinically appropriate sleep medication, and dependable telephone contact with her family.
“We will do everything we can to help,” Stirling added. “Brooke needs to know she has not been forgotten. Her family needs to be able to speak to her, and her worsening distress needs proper medical attention.”
The group underscored that George retains the right to humane treatment while her case proceeds. “Whatever the allegations, she is entitled to humane treatment while her case is heard,” Stirling said.
George’s next court appearance is scheduled for 28 October in Dubai.