An 18-year-old Londoner, Marcus Fakana, is facing the possibility of a lengthy jail sentence in Dubai after engaging in a relationship with a 17-year-old British girl he met during a family holiday. The girl, also from London, has since turned 18.
“We really liked each other but she was secretive with her family because they were strict,” Fakana told the Detained in Dubai group. “My parents knew about our relationship but she couldn’t tell hers. She had to meet me without telling them it was to see a boy.”
The girl returned to the UK, but the relationship continued through messages and pictures. However, the girl’s mother discovered their communications and reported Fakana to the Dubai police, leading to his arrest.
18yr old Londoner detained in #Dubai and faces 20 years in jail over sex with a 17 year old Brit. Marcus and his family are calling on local MP, Rt Hon David Lammy for assistance. Please help Marcus @DavidLammy pic.twitter.com/AIEdSpZbt9
— Radha Stirling (@RadhaStirling) November 20, 2024
Strict Laws in Dubai
Dubai is known for its stringent laws on matters such as drugs, alcohol, and sex outside of marriage. Despite recent changes allowing out-of-wedlock sex for tourists, the age of consent remains strictly enforced at 18. Fakana, unaware of the girl’s exact age, now faces a potential 20-year jail sentence.
“This is not something Dubai should be prosecuting,” said Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai. “The girl was just a few months younger than Marcus and he didn’t know that at the time. Since his arrest, she has turned 18 and Marcus would not be facing 20 years in jail.”
Family’s Plea for Help
Fakana’s family is urging Foreign Secretary David Lammy, their local MP, to intervene. “They earn a humble living, my mother is a cleaner and my dad works in a warehouse,” Fakana explained. “They saved up for this one-off holiday and they have now used all of their savings.”
A Foreign Office spokesperson stated, “We are supporting a British man in the UAE and are in contact with his family.”
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