Main content

My Dubai holiday that ended in prison

Karl Williams was on holiday with friends when they were accused of drug offences.

Four years ago, Karl Williams, went there on holiday to Dubai with some friends. He ended up spending a year in prison for possession of a synthetic cannabis called spice. He says he was innocent and that he was tortured by the police. His claims of torture are supported by the British human rights group, Reprieve, and the British prime minister raised it with the president of the United Arab Emirates. The police deny the allegations. After a year in prison, Karl and his friends were pardoned under an amnesty - he has just brought out a book about his experience. When he came into the Outlook studio, he told me about his holiday plans, and how they went wrong.

Available now

16 minutes

Podcast