Briton, 18, faces Dubai jail for sex with London girl, 17
Image credit: Detained in Dubai
Eighteen-year-old Marcus Fakana is currently living in a rented place in Dubai while he waits for his trial to take place.
A British teenager, 18 years old, could be sentenced to as many as 20 years in prison in Dubai for engaging in a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old British girl during their vacation in the emirate, according to a human rights advocate.
Marcus Fakana from Tottenham, North London, was vacationing with his family in September when he started a discreet holiday relationship with another Londoner, who has since reached the age of 18, as reported by Radha Stirling from the advocacy group Detained in Dubai.
After coming back home and looking at photos and messages, the girl's mother informed the police in Dubai about the situation. Consequently, authorities detained Mr. Fakana at his hotel, according to Ms. Stirling.
The embassy of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in London has been requested to provide a statement.
"Minimal Age Difference Matters Less"
A representative from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) stated, “We are assisting a British citizen in the UAE and are in touch with his family.”
Ms. Stirling, the founder and CEO of Detained in Dubai—a organization that assists foreigners and has expertise in UAE law—stated that Mr. Fakana and his family were "deeply troubled" by the situation.
She mentioned that his parents, who are employed as a cleaner and work in a warehouse, are unsure of how to proceed. They had to go back to London without their son in order to get back to their jobs.
She mentioned, "This is an unusual situation because it's the first time we've presented a case to the media involving a British citizen and such a slight age gap."
Radha Stirling is the creator and chief executive of the advocacy organization Detained in Dubai.
Ms. Stirling went on to say, "We're not discussing any kind of mistreatment or exploiting anyone."
"This is clearly just a situation involving two older teenagers, who are now the same age, and they got into trouble because a mother reported what they were doing."
She remarked, "This has taken off and became extremely popular, and many feel it's unjust."
They're astonished that something that is completely lawful in the UK could lead to a 20-year prison sentence in Dubai.
"That would destroy their son's future and impact the entire family. Is that really a fair trade?"
Detained in Dubai was established in 2008 and claims to have reached out to Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who is also the Member of Parliament for Mr. Fakana.
Ms. Stirling commented, "The UAE actively promotes itself to Western tourists by providing affordable flights and hiring costly public relations firms and advertising in newspapers. However, there is a lack of information about the potential risks we may face when visiting Dubai."
"What types of offenses can lead to our arrest? If you visit the website of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), you'll find it lacks the necessary detail."
According to the guidance on the FCDO website, consensual sexual relationships between an adult man and woman who are not married are typically permitted, provided that both individuals are at least 18 years old.
"This encompasses sexual relationships outside of marriage."
If an individual who is 18 or older engages in a sexual relationship with someone younger than 18, they can face legal charges for engaging in sexual activity with a minor.
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