An 18-year-old British teenager named Marcus Fakana, from Tottenham, north London, has been sentenced to a year in Dubai’s Al-Awir prison after being convicted of having consensual sex with a 17-year-old British girl.
The ruling has gone on to spark widespread outrage, with his family devastated and lots of advocates calling it unjust.
Fakana was on a family trip to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in August when he met the girl, who also originates from London.
RELATED STORIES
Reports clearly indicate that their relationship was consensual, but under strict UAE laws, sexual activity is prohibited for unmarried individuals under 18.
Fakana is being detained in Dubai, and a legal advocacy group assisting him criticized the sentence as “an utter disgrace” and “an embarrassment to Britain.”
Founder of the group, Radha Stirling said: “Marcus never imagined he would go to jail for a holiday romance with a girl who is now the same age. His life is being ruined. Here we have two British tourists in a consensual relationship, and now one is going to jail.”
Stirling also criticized Dubai’s international reputation, saying: “Dubai likes to market itself as a glamorous party destination, but they are jailing a British tourist for something that would not be a crime in his own country.”
Fakana was arrested in August after the girl’s mother discovered the relationship through messages on her daughter’s phone and filed a complaint with Dubai authorities.
He remained in Dubai during the legal proceedings and learned of his sentence after a brief trial.
He is now is set to serve his sentence at al-Awir prison, a maximum-security facility that houses death row inmates, other serious offenders and even terrorists.
Stirling expressed frustration with the British government’s lack of support and response for Fakana in his situation and said: “Marcus feels abandoned by the British government. Other governments have stepped up to protect their citizens from unjust sentencing, but the UK has failed to act.”
Fakana’s entourage claim errors in the case file included misrepresenting Fakana’s age as 19 and falsely listing him as being from Pakistan, though he has British citizenship.
Stirling said these errors seemed “deliberately intended to torment him”, and have the British teenager jailed for as long as they could.
Fakana’s parents, who returned to London for work, revealed that the situation has got their son’s mental health deteriorating.
They have appealed to Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to intervene and grant their son freedom.
“Our son went to the UAE to celebrate his father’s birthday, but what was meant to be a happy time has turned into a nightmare,” the family wrote on a GoFundMe page, which has raised over £33,000 to cover legal and living expenses.
The girl has since turned 18, and a police investigation confirmed the relationship was consensual.
“We had a wonderful time together. She was secretive with her family because they were strict. 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.”
“They said they were taking me in for questioning but wouldn’t tell me why. I couldn’t imagine what for. I was frightened and my parents were terrified.”
In a previous GoFundMe page set up two months ago, the family claimed Marcus had been denied a translator and was even forced to sign a confession document he did not comprehend.
“He has been wrongfully accused of a crime he did not commit, and is now caught in a legal battle in Dubai. This is not just a misunderstanding, it is racial discrimination, with someone seeking to use the UAE law against him.”
“While detained he was denied access to a translator and forced to sign a confession document he didn’t understand. He is only 18 years old, terrified, and very scared. His mental health is deteriorating rapidly.”
On social media, many have been left distraught by the news, as they believe the British teenager’s life is in jeopardy as he is now in prison with death row inmates and terrorists.
He is expected to make an appeal against the sentence.
