The family of Marcus Fakana, an 18-year-old from Tottenham, is pleading with Foreign Secretary David Lammy to intervene as their son faces up to 20 years in a Dubai prison. Marcus was arrested during a family vacation after striking up a relationship with a fellow Londoner who was 17 at the time.
While Dubai recently legalized sex outside of marriage for tourists, both participants must be at least 18. Marcus explained that his girlfriend couldn’t tell her strict parents about their relationship. Upon her return to London, her mother reportedly found messages on her phone and informed the Dubai authorities, unaware of the severe legal repercussions Marcus could face.
Marcus was detained for three days at Al Barsha Police Station without contacting his parents. Though released on bail, he remains stuck in Dubai, living in costly Airbnbs that his parents struggle to afford. “They saved for this one-off holiday and have now used all their savings,” Marcus said. “I pray this nightmare will be over, and I’ll be home for Christmas.”
Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai, criticized the mother’s decision, calling it a “private matter” that was legal in the UK. She added the family may not have understood the consequences of involving Dubai authorities. Marcus’s case underscores the risks of cultural and legal misunderstandings abroad.
