Marcus Fakana, an 18-year-old British teenager, has handed himself in to authorities in Dubai to begin a one-year prison sentence for having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl, according to campaign group Detained in Dubai. Fakana was on holiday with his family in the United Arab Emirates when he met the girl, who is also from London and turned 18 the following month. He was arrested at his hotel after the girl's mother found their chats and pictures upon the family's return to London and reported him to Dubai police.
Radha Stirling, head of Detained in Dubai, said Fakana intends to serve his sentence in Dubai's al-Awir prison. She expressed concern about the impact of Dubai prison on an 18-year-old's life, noting it was difficult to find words as he surrendered his freedom. Fakana is still hoping for a pardon from Dubai's ruler, Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, and assistance from UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who is the family's MP in Tottenham, and the British embassy.
Stirling previously called the sentence an 'utter disgrace' and 'an embarrassment to Britain', claiming the UK has prioritised trade deals over people's lives. She shared a message from Fakana thanking supporters and expressing gratitude for donations and prayers.
Fakana said the pair kept their 'holiday romance' secret from the girl's family because they were strict, and they had hoped to continue seeing each other in the UK. Dubai has strict laws on sex, with an age of consent of 18, and sexual relationships with minors are prosecutable. Prosecutors stated that under UAE law, the girl is classified as a minor, and her mother, as legal guardian, filed the complaint, emphasising that Dubai's legal system protects all individuals' rights.
