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AN 18-year-old Brit is facing 20 years in jail after striking up a holiday romance with a teenager in Dubai.
Marcus Fakana, from Tottenham, north London, was detained by police after the 17-year-old girl’s “strict” mother told cops.
Detained In DubaiHe was held in a gruelling UAE prison for three days and could now be jailed for up to two decades.
Marcus said he and the girl had a “wonderful time” together after meeting on holiday in August and planned to continue their romance back in London.
In Dubai, if a person aged 18 or over has a sexual relationship with a person under 18, they can be prosecuted for having a sexual relationship with a minor.
The relationship would be legal in the UK.
Marcus said after the girl, who has since turned 18, left to return to the UK he “couldn’t wait to see her again” when he got home.
But he told British-based aid organisation Detained in Dubai: “Then suddenly, police knocked on our hotel door.
“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.”
He was then detained for three days at Al Barsha Police Station.
Marcus said the girl had been “secretive” with her family when they saw each other.
He said: ” We really liked each other but 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.”
But Marcus later found out that the girl’s mother had seen messages and pictures on her daughter’s phone.
The mum then shared them with Dubai police when back in the UK.
Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai, said: “He was told his girlfriend’s mother had reported the relationship to authorities in Dubai after she had arrived back in London.
“This is clearly a very strict mother to involve police in a private matter that is completely legal in the country where she lives and where the children have grown up.
“Perhaps she wasn’t aware that she triggered the possibility of a young man of only 18 spending the next 20 years in prison.”
Marcus – who had gone to Dubai for a short holiday on August 26 with his parents – is still stuck there.
Law on tourists having sex outside marriage in Dubai
DUBAI recently implemented changes that now allowing tourists to have sex outside of marriage - as long as both are over 18.
But if either person’s spouse or parent/ guardian files a criminal complaint, both parties of an extra-marital consensual relationship could be jailed for six months or longer.
If someone aged 18 or over has a sexual relationship with a person under 18, they can be prosecuted for having sexual relations with a minor.
In Dubai, a child is defined as a person under 18 years of age.
If both people are under 18 they can both be prosecuted.
Punishment in this case, however, is likely to be limited to a caution, parental supervision, judicial supervision, professional training or psychiatric treatment, according to the UK’s Foreign Office.
Public displays of affection are also frowned upon. You can be arrested for kissing in the UAE.
He added: “I’m living in Airbnb’s that are costing my family £2,000 per month.
“They had to go home to work. They earn a humble living, my mother is a cleaner and my dad works in a warehouse.
“They saved up for this one off holiday and they have now used all of their savings.
“The police demanded 10,000 AED (£2,100) for bail which I’ve been told is not normal and the costs are mounting.
“I’m here all alone. I pray this nightmare will be over and I’ll be home for Christmas.”
Marcus, his family and human rights advocate Radha are now calling on the UK government for help.
Radha added: “Dubai police have the power to drop the case against Marcus and let him come home.
“This is not something we want to do to young people and we ask Mr Lammy MP to convey this message to his counterparts in the UAE.”
Detained In Dubai
English (US)