The anguished voice of a British father who has allegedly faced torture inside a Dubai jail has been heard publicly for the first time. 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 does not 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 his arrest more 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. Fresh details about the alleged mistreatment, including days of near-total sleep deprivation, have also emerged.
Background of the case
Ryan, a father of two from Ashford, Kent, was arrested and locked up in a UAE 'hell hole' on November 3, 2025. He had moved to the UAE to start a new life after a marital breakdown and was working as a sales officer. His family does 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 Metro – shows him talking about his alleged mistreatment by UAE officials.
Ryan's account
In the recording, Ryan says: 'We signed paperwork, we don't know what we signed. It was all in Arabic. 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 Metro 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.'
British embassy involvement
In an email seen by Metro, staff wrote that '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 that a doctor had seen Ryan and advised no follow-up was needed.
Sister's plea
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 Metro: '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.'
Political response
The family's local MP, Sojan Joseph, has 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 Metro: '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.'
Metro understands that Ryan's case has been raised directly by Britain's ambassador in the UAE and with Foreign Office officials in Dubai.
Fresh abuse claims
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 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 prisoners 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.
Family's 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.'
Human rights concerns
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.
Official statements
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.
