A British teenager, Marcus Fakana, is facing a possible 20-year prison sentence in Dubai after being arrested and jailed for having sex with a 17-year-old girl he met during a family holiday.
The 18-year-old from Tottenham, London, was detained in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and sentenced to one year in prison for his involvement in the secret romance with the young woman, who is now 18.
Fakana’s lawyer, Radha Stirling, CEO of the human rights group Detained in Dubai, confirmed that the teenager awaits the prosecution’s decision on whether to extend his sentence. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Stirling said Marcus is currently uncertain as the legal team waits to see if harsher charges will be pressed. “He is grateful for the widespread support and hopes the UK government does more,” she added.
Human rights lawyer David Haigh, who specialises in the Middle East, has warned that the maximum sentence for similar cases in the UAE is 20 years.
He told The Mail on Sunday, “The maximum sentence for a case like this is 20 years. The prosecutor always decides the sentence, but this was a low one for them.
The worry is that they will not want to let this go and look weak. They may want to show everyone watching they have fully upheld the law.”
Haigh added that Fakana would have no role in the prosecution’s appeal process. “Marcus will play almost no part in any prosecution appeal.
He won’t be allowed to talk or address the judge; everything will be in Arabic anyway. There won’t be a translator. He’ll probably be pushed into court for a minute and then went straight out again.”
Fakana’s arrest stems from a holiday fling with the young woman, which the teenager has described as a relationship where the two “really liked each other.” He explained that the girl had to keep their relationship secret from her family, as they were strict and didn’t approve of her seeing a boy.
Fakana said, “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.”
Since his arrest, Marcus has been held alone in Dubai, with no clear timeline for his release. He hopes to return home soon, saying, “I am here alone. I hope this nightmare ends, and I’ll be home for Christmas.”
The case has drawn attention from human rights groups and international observers. Haigh pointed out that while the UAE has loosened some of its laws in recent years to attract tourists and investors, the country still enforces Islamic Sharia law, which prohibits any sexual activity with someone under the age of 18.
In August, after the girl returned home, Marcus was reportedly confronted by police at his residence, a moment he described as terrifying for both him and his parents.
Despite the UAE’s efforts to soften its global image, the case highlights the risks faced by foreign nationals who fall afoul of the country’s legal system.
The UAE’s strict stance on issues such as sexual activity outside of marriage, especially when it involves minors, has led to several high-profile detentions in recent years. The country continues to face pressure from Western governments and human rights organisations regarding handling such cases.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has urged the UK government to intervene more for British citizens detained in the UAE. However, no official response has been issued regarding Marcus Fakana’s case.
In the wake of Marcus’s arrest, there is growing international scrutiny over the UAE’s legal practices and the potential risks facing foreign nationals who visit the country.
