12-05-2025
Jo Malone accused of ‘whitewashing' Dubai's human rights abuses
Jo Malone has been accused of 'whitewashing' Dubai's human rights abuses after she appeared to defend the UAE's record.
Amnesty International said the fragrance entrepreneur 's stance was 'deeply troubling' after she appeared to say there was little difference between living in the Middle Eastern city and in the UK or US.
Malone, 61, moved to Dubai in 2021 with her husband, Gary Willcox, after becoming 'disillusioned' with Britain.
Since then, she has lived in the suite of a five-star hotel in the Middle Eastern city and described Sheikh Mohammed, its ruler, as ' the most wonderful leader '.
Amnesty International has condemned her comments, saying public figures have 'a responsibility to speak truthfully about human rights'.
The charity told The Telegraph: 'While individuals are free to relocate as they see fit, defending the United Arab Emirates' human rights record is deeply troubling.
'The UAE has an appalling track record of silencing dissent, arbitrarily detaining critics, and violating migrant workers' rights.
'Glossing over these realities not only ignores the suffering of countless people but risks legitimising repression.
'Public figures have a responsibility to speak truthfully about human rights - not to help whitewash abuses.'
In an interview with The Sunday Times, Malone appeared to dismiss the abuses that have taken place and said you have to respect the fact 'you are in someone else's country'.
'I believe every person has the right to be whoever they want to be, but you think the UK has got everything right, and the US has got everything right?' she said.
'Honestly, you tell me a place you can go and live where you can tick every box 100 per cent.'
Malone – who is estimated to be worth £15 million – and her husband are enjoying a 10-year golden visa, which allows them to stay in the UAE, where there is no personal income or inheritance tax.
'It is probably the happiest I've ever been in my life,' she said, adding that she couldn't see herself returning to Britain.
She said she had become 'disillusioned' with the tax system in the UK, with little to show for it when 'you take [family] to hospital and you're waiting three days on a trolley'.
However, Dubai has been at the centre of several high profile human rights abuses.
In one of them, property developer Ryan Cornelius was arrested over an alleged £370 million fraud in 2008, held in solitary confinement and subsequently found guilty.
The 71-year-old, who denies wrongdoing over a loan secured with the Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB), has languished behind bars for 16 years.
The father of three's original 10-year sentence was extended by 20 years in 2011, with the UAE insisting he had a fair trial and that he had not repaid money to the bank.
The United Nations has said the charges of fraud are false and called for his immediate release.
