London teenager, 18, imprisoned in Dubai for ‘holiday romance’ with 17-year-old girl

A London teenager has been sentenced to one year in a Dubai jail, after an incident on a holiday.

A teenager from London has been sentenced to one year in a Dubai jail for engaging in a sexual relationship with a then-17-year-old girl.

According to campaign group Detained in Dubai, Marcus Fakana, from Tottenham, was visiting the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with his parents at the end of August when he met the other Londoner, who is now 18.

A “holiday romance blossomed” between the two, but Fakana previously said they kept it secret from the girl’s family “because they were strict”.

The pair had hoped to continue seeing each other upon returning home.

When the girl and her family returned to the UK, however, her mother reported the relationship to police in Dubai after seeing pictures and messages exchanged between her daughter and Fakana.

Marcus Fakana, 18, who has been sentenced to a year in prison for having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old in Dubai. Picture: Detained in Dubai/PA Wire.

Police arrested him at his family’s hotel and he was taken to al-Barsha police station, where he was held for three days and unable to make a phone call or speak with his parents, Detained in Dubai said.

Fakana told the group last month that he and the girl “had a wonderful time together” and “really liked each other”, adding that he’d felt frightened when taken into custody.

The head of Detained in Dubai, Radha Stirling, said Fakana felt abandoned by the British government since his September arrest, labelling the treatment a “disgrace”.

“The UK was once the most diplomatically influential western country in the Middle East,” Ms Stirling wrote on social media.

“Now, we are seeing countries like Canada, Malaysia, Ireland and the US leaving the UK way behind.

“The Labour government should be ashamed they have not secured the freedom of a teenage tourist. It wasn’t a difficult job.”

Ms Stirling said Fakana is “desperately hoping to come home this week” and intends to appeal against his sentence.

Fakana’s family have issued a plea to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum to free their son. Picture: Fayez Nureldine/AFP

Fakana’s family have also issued a plea to Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, to release their son.

Ms Stirling said that “holiday-makers should book elsewhere until Marcus is free”.

“I urge young people and parents to reconsider holidays in Dubai where so many people find themselves at risk of unfair and lengthy detention in prisons notorious for human rights abuses and torture,” she continued.

In Dubai, the age of consent is 18 and strictly enforced.

“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,” prosecutors said in a previous statement.

“Dubai’s legal system is committed to protecting the rights of all individuals and ensuring impartial judicial proceedings.”