British TikTok Influencer, 23, Faces Death by Firing Squad in Dubai If Convicted of Man’s Murder

A British influencer who went to Dubai to see a man she met online has reportedly been charged in his murder — though she may have been acting in self-defense.

Brooke George, 23, traveled from Kent, England, to Dubai to visit a 26-year-old British man she met online, according to Detained in Dubai, an organization that works to assist foreign nationals wrongfully detained in the United Arab Emirates.

George described her first stay as “the time of my life,” per the organization, but things took a drastic turn when she visited Dubai again.

“After Brooke returned to Dubai for the second time, the dynamic between them had clearly changed,” her mother, Thereza George, said in a statement, per the outlet.

One night, George went to a bar with the man, who allegedly became intoxicated and abusive. Detained in Dubai reported that, according to George’s family, she arranged a flight home but went to the apartment where she was staying to retrieve her passport — and it was being withheld.

“The family say she was crying and begging for her passport’s return when she was punched hard in the face and attacked,” the Detained in Dubai report stated. “Brooke says she feared for her life and, reaching for a kitchen knife within her grasp, acted in self defence.”

The TikTok influencer was reportedly arrested on June 22 and charged with premeditated murder. She faces death by firing squad if convicted.

“When I spoke to Brooke right after the incident, she was absolutely terrified,” her mother said. “I have never seen my daughter so frightened in my life. She was crying uncontrollably. I could see that one of her eyes was badly swollen and was beginning to close.”

Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai, said in a statement that George “should be treated not merely as an accused person, but as a presumed victim of violence whose allegations and documented injuries deserve proper investigation.”

“We will be working to ensure that her rights are protected, that she receives a fair trial, and that the circumstances leading to this tragedy are fully and impartially examined,” Stirling added.

George is currently being held at Bur Dubai Police Station and has reportedly been deprived of access to her embassy and forced to make statements without a lawyer present.

“Those closest to Brooke became increasingly concerned that she may have been lured to Dubai under false pretences for the purpose of exploitation,” said Stirling, noting that the man allegedly booked George a one-way ticket for her second visit instead of a round-trip.

“We are calling for Brooke to be released on bail pending the outcome of the investigation,” Stirling added. “The authorities must investigate Brooke’s allegations with the same seriousness as the allegation against her. Multiple witnesses observed visible injuries immediately after the incident. Rather than treating Brooke solely as a murder suspect, investigators must also examine her being the victim of serious violence and possible exploitation.”