Anguished voice of British dad ‘tortured in Dubai jail’ after latest abuse claims emerge | News World

That is the anguished voice of a British father who has allegedly faced torture inside a Dubai jail.

Ryan Pepper, 27, claimed that United Arab Emirates (UAE) officials threatened to smash his hands if he didn’t sign paperwork in Arabic, a language he doesn’t understand.

That is the primary time Ryan’s voice has been heard publicly since allegations surfaced that he has been beaten, threatened and psychologically abused after he was arrested greater than seven months ago.

Metro 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.

This newspaper can even report fresh details in regards to the alleged mistreatment he has faced, including facing days of near-total sleep deprivation.

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 begin a brand new life after a marital breakdown and was working as a sales officer.

His family have no idea why he was detained, they usually consider the Foreign Office doesn’t know either.

In short phone calls together with his sister, Chloe, and thru 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 Metro – 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.

‘They threatened to interrupt our hands if we didn’t sign that… we now have no idea what we signed.

‘None of us speak Arabic and they’d not give us a translation.’

His sister Chloe Pepper, who has begged for proof that Ryan is secure, told Metro that Ryan’s treatment in jail was ‘absolutely awful’.

She added: ‘Torture shouldn’t occur. He has said he’s innocent they usually haven’t any evidence.’

British consular officials have seen Ryan’s injuries with their very own eyes after they visited him at Al Gharb Police Station in May.

In an email seen by Metro, staff wrote that ‘officials observed injuries included a bandage on the fitting side of Ryan’s head and his front teeth were partially broken.’

Embassy employees also confirmed that Ryan ‘described the events resulting in 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, after which to a different location where he was physically assaulted and held in solitary confinement.’

Ryan was ‘distressed when recounting these events’, officials noted, adding that a health care provider had seen Ryan and advised no follow up was needed.

‘I would like British officials to truly help’

Sister Chloe, a 24-year-old nail technician from Kent, claims that despite seeing the injuries, British officials ‘don’t appear to be they care’ and is shocked they’ve been unable to secure his release.

She told Metro: ‘I would like them [British officials] to truly help.

‘They always say, “If he’s got issues, need to boost it with the authorities”.

‘But they tortured him, why would he raise issues with those that hurt him? I believe the UK doesn’t wish to mess with Dubai, because Dubai might need their very 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 government about this and spoken with Chloe, told Metro: ‘Any violence towards Ryan and other British residents mustn’t be happening, and I hope to see Ryan’s situation resolved swiftly by the embassy and FCDO officials so he will be returned safely.

‘My thoughts are together with his family and friends at this very difficult time.’

Metro understand that Ryan’s case has been raised directly by Britain’s ambassador within the UAE and with Foreign Office officials in Dubai.

Ryan’s family and supporters are also making fresh claims in regards to 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 vivid yellow humming lights that made sleep nearly unattainable for so long as 92 days.

His family also claims that CCTV cameras were switched off every quarter-hour on the request of CID officers so staff could remove 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 is going to come next.

‘Our family continues to live in fear and uncertainty’

Chloe said: ‘We hope court will occur now that he has been moved.

‘Not less than if he’s charged we’d know what we’re and get some closure, but for the time being we all know nothing.’

The nail technician has also written to the UAE ambassador to the UK, His Excellency Mansoor Abdullah Khalfan Juma Abulhoul, to beg for her brother’s safety.

The letter, which has not had a response, says they’re writing to the UAE ‘out of desperation, concern, and with nowhere else left to show.’

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 inside your power could also be done to be certain that he’s secure, treated humanely, receiving appropriate medical care, and afforded dignity and fairness whilst detained.’

Radha Stirling, founding father of Detained in Dubai, who’s assisting the Pepper family, said the UAE ‘must safeguard Ryan’s welfare now.’

She continued: ‘The UAE has forged its investigative net dangerously wide, subjecting British, American and other foreign detainees to coercive interrogations, extortion, humiliation, abuse and torture.

‘It’s unacceptable for Western democracies to be expanding technology, trade and security partnerships with a rustic that tortures our residents.’

Detained in Dubai has also raised his case with the United Nations Special Rapporteur on torture, in addition to 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 individuals as they investigate one issue, leaving some innocent people in prison for lengthy periods of time.

An FCDO spokesperson said: ‘We’re supporting a British man who’s currently detained within the UAE. 

‘We’re involved together with his family and proceed to boost the case directly with the local authorities within the UAE.’

The United Arab Emirates embassy in London has been contacted for comment.

Get in contact with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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