DUBAI – A GoFundMe for Mia O’Brien, 23, jailed for life in Dubai after a “stupid mistake,” has been taken down for violating the platform’s strict guidelines.
A GoFundMe campaign launched to support a British woman, 23, sentenced to a life term in a Dubai prison has been taken down for violating the platform’s terms of service. The fundraiser, started by the woman’s family, aimed to collect funds for legal fees and travel expenses.
Mia O’Brien, a 23-year-old from Huyton, Liverpool, is currently held in a central prison in Dubai, her family confirmed. Her mother, Danielle McKenna, 46, had created the online appeal, which was later removed by GoFundMe.
A spokesperson for the crowdfunding platform stated that the page was removed because it “violates Term 9 of the Prohibited Conduct section in our Terms of Service,” which explicitly bans raising funds for “the legal defence of certain alleged crimes.”
In her heartfelt plea on the now-deleted page, Ms. McKenna wrote, “Mia has been given a life sentence over in Dubai and she is now in central prison.” She described her daughter as a law student who “got mixed up in the wrong so-called friends and made a very stupid mistake.”
The fundraiser had gathered nearly £700 of its £1,600 target before its removal. The funds were intended to cover legal costs and enable family visits.
The exact crime for which O’Brien was convicted has not been publicly disclosed by her family. However, a life sentence in the United Arab Emirates typically spans 15 to 25 years and is often handed down for serious offenses such as drug trafficking, murder, human trafficking, or terrorism-related activities.
This case highlights the strict legal framework in the UAE. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) travel advice for the region explicitly warns tourists about a “zero tolerance for drugs-related offences.” The FCDO notes that penalties for drug possession—including residual amounts or even traces in the bloodstream—can be severe, ranging from prison terms to fines.
An FCDO spokesperson confirmed to The Sun that they are “supporting the family of a British woman detained in the UAE and are in contact with the local authorities.”