A British teenager, sentenced to a year in a Dubai prison for having a consensual sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl, has made a direct plea for clemency to the ruler of the emirate, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
In December, authorities imprisoned Marcus Fakana, 19, from Tottenham, north London, after the mother of a British girl, who was on holiday in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), found messages between them and reported him. At the time of the incident, Fakana was 18. The age of consent in the UAE is 18, whereas it is 16 in the United Kingdom.
Letter For Clemency
Fakana is now serving his sentence at the Al Awir Prison and has penned a letter to the Dubai ruler asking for his release. The case has drawn attention to the stark differences in legal and cultural norms between the UK and the UAE, particularly for tourists.
Radha Stirling, founder of the advocacy group Detained in Dubai, which is representing Fakana, described the experience as deeply damaging for the teenager. “This has been the most traumatic and life-altering experience imaginable for Marcus,” Stirling stated. “He is barely an adult himself, and never intended to break any law. What happened was legal in the UK and consensual. But now he is facing permanent damage to his mental health and future prospects because of it.”
Detained in Dubai reports that Fakana has had limited contact with his family, relying on sporadic and brief phone calls. This situation has devastated both him and his loved ones mentally and emotionally.
Request for Help from the UK FCDO
The teenager’s parents have been in urgent contact with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to advocate for his release.
Stirling added, “If Marcus could go back in time, he would. He has shown remorse and fully respects the laws of the UAE. He only hopes the government will show compassion and allow him to return home to rebuild his life. He’s very young and this is a heart-breaking way to begin adulthood.”
The government of Dubai has previously issued a statement on the matter, affirming their legal process. “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,” the statement read. It further added, “Dubai’s legal system is committed to protecting the rights of all individuals and ensuring impartial judicial proceedings.”
Stirling has used the case to caution British tourists about the potential legal pitfalls in the UAE. “Parents need to be aware that teens can be charged in the UAE for behaviour that would not be considered criminal at home, whether it’s a relationship, social media activity, or even drinking alcohol,” she warned. “Marcus is struggling, and this experience will leave a permanent scar. We implore Sheikh Mohammed and the government of Dubai to hear his pleas and let him come home.”
The FCDO has confirmed its involvement in the case. A spokesperson said, “We are supporting a British man in the UAE and are in contact with his family.”
