British teen Marcus Fakana was sentenced to one year in Dubai for a relationship with a 17-year-old girl, sparking international controversy. Arrested after the girl’s mother reported their secret romance, Fakana faces strict UAE age of consent laws, prompting calls for government intervention and legal appeal.
Marcus Fakana, an 18-year-old British man, has been sentenced to one year in prison in Dubai following a “holiday romance” with a 17-year-old girl, now 18. Fakana was visiting the UAE with his family when he met the girl, who is also from London. The couple kept their relationship secret from the girl’s strict family but hoped to continue seeing each other when they returned to the UK.
The girl’s mother found their private chats and pictures after they returned to the UK, leading her to contact Dubai police. Fakana was arrested at his family’s hotel in Dubai in September. He was charged under UAE law, which has a strict age of consent policy of 18. The girl was legally considered a minor at the time.
Fakana’s case has drawn criticism from the campaign group Detained in Dubai, which called the situation a “disgrace.” The group claims that Fakana’s case was mishandled by the prosecution, preventing it from being treated as a misdemeanor initially. Fakana and his family have appealed for intervention from the British government, with Foreign Secretary David Lammy being contacted.
The family is also planning to appeal the sentence. Meanwhile, the Foreign Office has confirmed it is in contact with Fakana’s family regarding the case. Dubai’s legal system is known for its strict enforcement of laws surrounding alcohol, drugs, and sex outside of marriage, making this case particularly complex.
Fakana’s family hopes the situation will be reviewed, as they continue to seek justice in the case.
Source: Nigerian Bulletin
