World of Secrets

Kiera and Mia remember Monic as charismatic and kind-hearted. They were living with her in Dubai and can reveal the shocking reality of her life there, saying they were all trapped in a prostitution ring run by a man they believe is “the most powerful pimp in Dubai”. They say they’re scared of him but are determined to speak out, to get justice for their friend.

This episode contains strong language.

If you feel distressed by the references in this story, please speak to a health professional, or an organisation that offers support such as Befrienders Worldwide. www.befrienders.org

For UK listeners, details of organisations offering information about or support after sexual abuse, or with feelings of despair, are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline.

If you are in the UK, you can watch on iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/n12t256jg

Reporter and Presenter: Runako Celina

Executive producer: Mauricio Gris

Monic’s relative heads to the UAE, like her, in pursuit of a dream. But soon after, news of her death shatters everything. Devastated and distrusting of the police’s account, Michael takes the search for truth into his own hands leading to a dramatic confrontation.

This episode contains strong language.

If you feel distressed by the references in this story, please speak to a health professional, or an organisation that offers support such as Befrienders Worldwide. www.befrienders.org

For UK listeners, details of organisations offering information about or support after sexual abuse, or with feelings of despair, are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline.

If you are in the UK, you can watch on iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/n12t256jg

Reporter and Presenter: Runako Celina

Executive producer: Mauricio Gris

Monic dreams of leaving her home in rural Uganda for a different life. So when a “friend” promises her a job in Dubai, it feels like the chance she’s been waiting for. Monic is elated, she is the first of her 11 siblings to travel abroad. But just a few months later she is dead. Her family is left searching for answers. What happened in Dubai?

A warning that this podcast includes disturbing scenes, including discussion of sexual abuse and suicide. Some episodes also contain strong language.

Please note, the image is being used for illustrative purposes only and the person depicted in it is a model.

If you feel distressed by the references in this story, please speak to a health professional, or an organisation that offers support such as Befrienders Worldwide. www.befrienders.org

For UK listeners, details of organisations offering information about or support after sexual abuse, or with feelings of despair, are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline.

If you are in the UK, you can watch on iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/n12t256jg

Reporter and Presenter: Runako Celina

Death in Dubai is a BBC Eye Investigation produced in association with Thread Studios.

Executive producer: Mauricio Gris

A woman falls from a tower block. It's caught on camera and the clip goes viral. Within hours, Mona Kizz’s name is trending worldwide. In death, the beautiful 23-year-old Ugandan is accused of being a #DubaiPortaPotty. With over 450 million views on TikTok, the hashtag leads to parodies and speculative exposés of women suspected of being paid by men to be their human toilet. But behind the online rumours lies an even darker reality.

Released from 15th September.

This podcast includes disturbing scenes, including discussion of sexual abuse and suicide. Some episodes also contain strong language.

Please note, the show image is being used for illustrative purposes only and the person depicted in it is a model.

Sidhu predicted he would die young and by the bullet. Sidhu’s song The Last Ride plays like a premonition. In his final days the death threats intensify and Sidhu is increasingly isolated. We find out who benefited from his murder and how it’s changed Punjab - making it a more dangerous place. Can we finally get answers to why Sidhu was killed?

Presented by broadcaster and DJ Bobby Friction and investigative journalist Ishleen Kaur.

Season 8 of World of Secrets, The Killing Call, is a BBC Eye investigation for the BBC World Service.

Archive audio credits: First India News, India Today, CBC, CPAC, Al Jazeera, WION, Republic World.

Here’s a link to the BBC Eye two-part documentary films, which we recommend you watch after listening to this podcast: https://bit.ly/thekillingcall

If you are in the UK, you can watch on iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002f18y

Presenters: Ishleen Kaur and Bobby Friction

Back home, Sidhu starts delving into Punjab’s violent past and singing about its place in modern India. He joins mass demonstrations which rock Delhi and writes a protest anthem for the movement. The death threats continue. And we find out that Sidhu is making friends with dangerous people.

Presented by broadcaster and DJ Bobby Friction and investigative journalist Ishleen Kaur.

Season 8 of World of Secrets, The Killing Call, is a BBC Eye investigation for the BBC World Service.

Archive audio credits: Sidhu Moose Wala, Jhonty Dhillon, Ritesh Lakhi, Times Now.

Here’s a link to the BBC Eye two-part documentary films, which we recommend you watch after listening to this podcast: https://bit.ly/thekillingcall

If you are in the UK, you can watch on iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002f18y

Presenters: Ishleen Kaur and Bobby Friction

Thousands from across India crowd the streets for Sidhu Moose Wala’s funeral, to grieve one of Punjab’s famous sons. Millions more watch. Flowers are thrown at the coffin, pulled by his favourite tractor. Amongst the grief are anger and unanswered questions– why was he not better protected? And we find out more about the world he was caught up in.

Season 8 of World of Secrets, The Killing Call, is a BBC Eye investigation for the BBC World Service.

Archive audio credits: NDTV, India Today, Pun Yaab, Lovepreet Waraich, BritAsiaTV, CBC, CTV, WION

Here’s a link to the BBC Eye two-part documentary films, which we recommend you watch after listening to this podcast: https://bit.ly/thekillingcall

If you are in the UK, you can watch on iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002f18y

Presenters: Ishleen Kaur and Bobby Friction

Have you heard? Sidhu Moose Wala is dead. Social media is on fire across India – fans feel like they have lost a family member, the grief is overwhelming. The lyrics of his song The Last Ride sound like a deadly prophecy. Did Sidhu know danger was closing in? Then just hours after the killing there’s a shocking claim.

Season 8 of World of Secrets, The Killing Call, is a BBC Eye investigation for the BBC World Service.

Archive audio credits: India Today, Times Now, Dunya News, NDTV, CTV, Bijender Sharma

Here’s a link to the BBC Eye two-part documentary films, which we recommend you watch after listening to this podcast: https://bit.ly/thekillingcall

If you are in the UK, you can watch on iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002f18y

Presenters: Ishleen Kaur and Bobby Friction

Sidhu Moose Wala explodes onto the Canadian music scene. His sound is a fusion of two worlds - hip-hop with the poetic language of rural Punjab, where he is from. After years of struggle he’s making it. But with the spotlight comes a dark side. As his fame grows, so do the threats. "We will kill you."

Season 8 of World of Secrets, The Killing Call, is a BBC Eye investigation for the BBC World Service.

Archive audio credits: Lovepreet Waraich, Malwa TV, BritAsia TV, MPHONE Canteeni Mandeer, GK Digital, Thakur Media, Capital Extra, Famous Punjab TV, ModernSings, Dheeth.jeha, RealRohitBlogs, Mirror Now, India Today.

Here’s a link to the BBC Eye two-part documentary films, which we recommend you watch after listening to this podcast: https://bit.ly/thekillingcall

If you are in the UK, you can watch on iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002f18y

Presenters: Ishleen Kaur and Bobby Friction

Indian music star Sidhu Moose Wala died in a hail of bullets. Who wanted him dead and why? He was one of India’s biggest stars — a voice millions followed. Then Sidhu Moose Wala was gunned down. This is the hunt for answers over a murder that won’t be forgotten. A two-year long investigation that exposes a tangled web of fame, power and vengeance and uncovers a criminal underworld that reaches far beyond India's borders.

Season 8 of World of Secrets, The Killing Call, is a BBC Eye investigation for the BBC World Service. Available now.

Archive audio credits: BritAsia TV, India Today, Times Now.

Here’s a link to the BBC Eye two-part documentary films, which we recommend you watch after listening to this podcast: https://bit.ly/thekillingcall

If you are in the UK, you can watch on iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002f18y