Inside notorious Dubai prison American college student could end up in

A student who was sentenced to one year in prison in Dubai could end up in the city’s notorious jail, where inhumane conditions have been reported.

Elizabeth Polanco De Los Santos is a 21-year-old college student in New York, who was transiting through Dubai airport while returning home from Istanbul. After a “humiliating” and “violating” strip search at the airport in the United Arab Emirates, she was detained and has now been sentenced to one year in prison.

Human rights advocacy group Detained in Dubai has said that she fears she will end up in the country’s “notorious” Al Awir prison, which is infamous for shockingly inhumane conditions and human rights violations that the inmates are subjected to.

Dinchy Lar, 38, who had also been sentenced to one year in prison and was held at Al Awir Central Prison in the UAE has described it as a place of severe overcrowding and dehumanizing conditions.

READ MORE: Student says she feels ‘violated’ as she’s jailed in Dubai after half-naked strip search

Ms. Lar shared her harrowing experiences within the prison’s walls, describing that the prison cells, originally designed for a few occupants, now house a minimum of 10 people, creating intense competition for the limited sleeping space available on three bunk beds. Personal space is virtually nonexistent, forcing inmates to sleep in close quarters, often on the floor, Ms Lar said.

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She told ITV News: “There’s nothing like personal space… you are sleeping and somebody is in your face. You’re literally sleeping on top of another person.” Adding to the misery is the prison’s extreme air conditioning, which creates freezing temperatures inside.

This harsh environment has led to health issues among prisoners, according to Ms Lar. Medical attention is reportedly scarce, with inmates having to reach a critical state of illness to receive treatment. Furthermore, inmates have limited access to the outdoors, with Ms Lar mentioning that she could only step outside for a mere 15 minutes in three months.

Ms Lar spoke of a racial hierarchy, where privileges such as access to medical care were granted based on nationality or ethnicity. She said she felt discriminated against because of her race, being denied medical attention when needed.

Concerns were also raised about the UAE’s legal system, indicating that detainees could be held without proper communication and legal representation. Coercion during confessions and limited access to lawyers underscored the challenges faced by inmates in navigating the legal process.

The impact on the mental well-being of inmates is profound. Ms Lar, for instance, expressed feelings of shame and fear regarding societal judgment, impacting her emotional state and future employment prospects.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth Polanco De Los Santos remains trapped in Dubai fearing for the worst amid mounting reports of the horrendous conditions travellers who happened to be accused of a crime in UAE are subjected to. Detained in Dubai representative Radha Stirling said of Elizabeth’s ordeal: “Elizabeth is extremely worried that she will be detained in the notorious Al Awir prison and won’t (as promised) be allowed to leave the country.

“Even if she is allowed to be deported tomorrow, she will remain in prison until then, not knowing whether there will be further delays or whether in fact, she will end up forced to serve the whole sentence. This is an extreme situation for a 21-year-old to go through.”

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