An 18-year-old British boy begins a one-year sentence in Dubai for a relationship with a 17-year-old girl, raising concerns about legal implications.
Dubai: So, there’s this British teenager, Marcus Fakana, who just turned himself in to start a year-long prison sentence in Dubai. He got into trouble for having a relationship with a 17-year-old girl while on holiday. It’s a pretty wild situation.
Marcus was on vacation with his family when he met this girl, who’s also from London. They kept their romance under wraps because her family was strict. But when they got back home, her mom found some messages and photos, which led to the police getting involved.
Radha Stirling, who runs a campaign group called Detained in Dubai, said Marcus is now in al-Awir prison. He’s hoping for a pardon from Dubai’s ruler and some help from UK officials. It’s a tough spot for an 18-year-old to be in.
She mentioned how hard it was to see him surrender his freedom. It’s a lot for someone so young. The UK’s foreign secretary, David Lammy, said they’d support him, but also reminded everyone to follow local laws when abroad.
Stirling has been vocal about how unfair this whole situation is, calling it an embarrassment for Britain. Marcus shared a message thanking everyone for their support, saying it’s been a long fight but he’s keeping his faith strong.
He and the girl thought they could keep seeing each other back in the UK, but Dubai has strict laws about relationships, especially with minors. The age of consent there is 18, and they take these things seriously.
Prosecutors pointed out that under UAE law, the girl is considered a minor, and her mom filed the complaint. They’re all about protecting rights and making sure the legal process is fair.
