Imagine being a teenager on holiday, falling for someone, and then waking up to a nightmare. That’s what happened to Marcus Fakana, a young man from London who found himself facing a year in a Dubai prison after a consensual relationship with a 17-year-old girl.
The age of consent in the UAE is 18, and while Marcus and the girl, also British, were both teenagers, their relationship landed him in hot water. The girl’s mother reported him to the authorities after discovering messages between them, and now Marcus is begging for mercy.
From his cell at Al Awir Prison, Marcus has written to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, pleading for release. He’s only 19, barely an adult himself, and the ordeal has taken a toll on his mental health and future prospects.
“This has been the most traumatic and life-altering experience imaginable for Marcus,” says Radha Stirling, founder of Detained in Dubai. “He never intended to break any law, and what happened was legal in the UK.”
Isolated in prison, with only sporadic, short calls to his family, Marcus is desperate to come home. His parents have been frantically appealing to the British government for help, but the case highlights a chilling reality: what might be considered harmless in one country can land you in serious trouble abroad.
“Parents need to be aware that teens can be charged in the UAE for behaviour that would not be considered criminal at home,” Stirling warns.
Will Marcus’s pleas for mercy be heard? Will he be allowed to return home and rebuild his life? The story of this young man caught in a legal web is a stark reminder of the importance of understanding the laws of the countries we visit, and the potential consequences of seemingly harmless actions.
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