When Marcus Fakana, 18, flew to Dubai for what should have been the trip of a lifetime, his hopes for adventure quickly turned to despair. A holiday romance with another British teenager led to his arrest and the looming threat of up to 20 years behind bars for engaging in consensual sex with someone he met during his stay. The situation has sparked outrage and calls for intervention back home as details continue to emerge.
Fakana, who hails from Tottenham, London, was enjoying sun-soaked days and shared moments with his girlfriend, who was also from London and only 17 at the time they met. The two young adults had formed a close bond during their families' stay at the same hotel, but things took a drastic turn when the girl's mother found explicit messages and photos exchanged between the couple upon their return to the UK.
The mother, reportedly furious and unaware of her daughter's relationship, reached out to the Dubai authorities, which set off the chain of events leading to Marcus's arrest. On what was intended to be just another day of vacationing, police unexpectedly knocked on the family's hotel door. "They said they were taking me in for questioning but wouldn't tell me why. I couldn't even begin to understand what I had done wrong," Marcus recalled through the Detained in Dubai group, which has been assisting him throughout this ordeal.
Detained for three days at Al Barsha Police Station, Marcus was not allowed any contact with his parents, leaving them worried and helpless thousands of miles away. Upon his release, he found himself shackled by legal consequences, unable to leave the country until the case is resolved.
"I am stranded here living in Airbnbs; it's costing my family £2,000 per month. They had to return to work, earning modestly – my mother is a cleaner, and my father works in a warehouse. They saved for this one-off holiday, and now all their savings are gone due to my situation," Marcus lamented.
The legal ramifications of this encounter stem from the strict laws governing sexual conduct and the age of consent within the United Arab Emirates, which is set at 18 years. Prior to this case, Dubai had recently legalized sex outside of marriage for tourists, but the laws surrounding consent remain strictly enforced. While the young couple's escapade would have been perfectly lawful back home, it has become the source of Marcus’s nightmare.
Radha Stirling, the CEO of Detained in Dubai, emphasized the absurdity of the situation, highlighting how both teens unknowingly navigated laws and social norms vastly different from their own. "Marcus was told his girlfriend's mother had reported the relationship to the authorities after returning to London. This is clearly quite draconian, especially when both youngsters should be free to love without fear of legal repercussions – this is not something the authorities should have been involved with," Stirling stated.
Adding another twist to the tale, since the time of his arrest, the young girl has turned 18. Legal experts argue this change could potentially alter the outcome for Marcus; if only the authorities were willing to reconsider the charges, which seem disproportionate and overly punitive.
Now, with family ties fraying under the stress of the situation, Marcus's parents have taken their calls for support to their local political representatives. They have been urging Foreign Secretary David Lammy to intervene. “We really liked each other but she was secretive with her family because they were strict,” Marcus said, emphasizing the intricacies of their young love. He highlighted the unfairness of how their relationship spiraled from innocent holiday dating to potential felony charges. "This isn't something we should be punished for," he added.
Stirling has called on Lammy to use his powers as Foreign Secretary to push for the case to be dropped. “Dubai police have the power to drop the case against Marcus and let him come home, and they should do so,” she insisted. She warned how parents might be deterred from letting their older teens travel abroad, fearing they might find themselves similarly ensnared by foreign laws vastly different from their own legal frameworks.
The incident has not only brought to light the strict enforcement of Dubai’s laws but has also ignited discussions around the challenges faced by tourists unfamiliar with the local regulations. Radha Stirling stated, “It’s important we urge clarity on these legal matters to prevent future tragedies like this one. Parents need to feel secure when sending their children abroad.”
Meanwhile, young Marcus remains isolated, grappling with the emotional toll of his incarceration alongside the daily worry about what lies ahead. "I just pray this nightmare is over soon and I can go home for Christmas,” he murmured, voicing the collective hope shared by his family and supporters as they advocate for his freedom.
British diplomats are attempting to navigate this delicate situation, maintaining contact with Marcus's family and assuring them of their commitment to offering assistance. A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office commented, “We are providing support to the British national detained in Dubai and remain in contact with his family.”
