Joy as Briton Freed from Dubai Prison Horror

A British law student, Mia O'Brien, 23, has been granted a surprise pardon and released from a Dubai jail where she was serving a 25-year sentence for cocaine possession and supply. Arrested in October of last year, Ms. O'Brien maintained her innocence but was convicted and incarcerated in the infamous Al-Awir Central Prison.

Her family, who had been desperately trying to raise funds for her substantial fine, expressed immense joy and relief at her immediate release. Ms. O'Brien is expected to return home to Liverpool just in time for the Christmas holidays, a prospect her grandmother described as a miracle. She had reportedly shared a cell with other women and endured harsh prison conditions.

While the exact details of her release remain unclear, it is understood to be part of a yearly pardon system in Dubai. Ms. O'Brien still needs to resolve passport issues before her travel. Her mother confirmed the joyous news on social media, expressing shock and profound happiness at her daughter's impending return.