Detained in DubaiAn 18-year-old British man sentenced to one year in prison for a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old British girl in Dubai has been given bail, a campaign group has said.
Marcus Fakana, of Tottenham, north London, began the secretive holiday romance in September with another Londoner, who is now aged 18.
After returning home and seeing pictures and chats, the girl’s mother reported the relationship to Dubai police, who then arrested Fakana at his hotel. Sex with another person aged under 18 is illegal in Dubai.
On Wednesday, campaign group Detained in Dubai called the judgment an “utter disgrace” and said Fakana would appeal against the “unreasonable” sentence.
Both teenagers were on holiday with their parents in the emirate from the UK, where the age of consent is 16.
Fakana had told his family about the romance but the girl had not.
The government of Dubai previously said: “Under UAE law, the girl is legally classified as a minor, and in accordance with procedures recognised internationally, her mother – being the legal guardian – filed the complaint.”
It added: “Dubai’s legal system is committed to protecting the rights of all individuals and ensuring impartial judicial proceedings.”
‘Tearing family apart’
Ms Stirling, the founder and chief executive of Detained in Dubai, which helps foreigners abroad and is an international authority on UAE law, told the BBC Fakana “was shocked” by the “unfathomable” sentence.
She said: “It does not warrant a year in jail, doesn’t warrant tearing this family apart and ruining this young 18-year-old’s life.
“I’m confident that, on appeal, the custodial sentence will be overturned and he will be allowed to return home.
“The question is how long is that going to take and how much effort is that going to take, whether that’s British intervention or the public support in telling Dubai this is unacceptable?”
The 18-year-old’s parents returned to London without their son after the holiday to resume their jobs in a warehouse and as a cleaner to help pay for his temporary accommodation.
A UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) spokesperson said: “We are supporting a British man in the UAE and are in contact with his family.”
