An 18-year-old from Tottenham, Marcus Fakana, is facing up to 20 years in prison in Dubai after being charged over a relationship with a 17-year-old British girl, now 18, during a family holiday.
Fakana’s vacation with his parents, which began on August 26, 2024, turned into a nightmare when the girl’s parents discovered their relationship and reported it to Dubai authorities upon returning to the UK. Despite their relationship being legal in the UK, Dubai’s strict Islamic legal system presents significant challenges, even though out-of-wedlock s£x was recently legalized for tourists.
Fakana claims he was unaware of the girl’s age difference at the time, describing their bond as a “blossoming teenage romance.”
“We had a wonderful time together. 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,” Fakana explained to campaign group Detained in Dubai.
The situation escalated when the girl’s mother reportedly discovered messages and photos on her daughter’s phone and reported the relationship to Dubai police. Fakana was detained for three days without access to his parents or legal support.
Radha Stirling, Chief Executive of Detained in Dubai, is advocating for Fakana’s release, emphasizing the cultural and legal differences at play:
“This case highlights the risks of taking older teenagers to countries with strict laws that criminalize behaviors considered legal in their home countries. Marcus didn’t know her exact age, and the relationship would be entirely lawful in the UK. Dubai authorities should not prosecute this case.”
Stirling has called on Tottenham MP David Lammy, the UK’s Foreign Secretary, to intervene and negotiate Marcus’s release. She urged Dubai police to drop the charges, stating:
“This young man’s life should not be ruined over a private matter between teenagers