The family of an 18-year-old British man facing up to 20 years in prison in the United Arab Emirates over a holiday romance say they are all struggling with his mental health, saying he is still stuck in a “nightmare”. warned that it was “decreasing”.
Tottenham’s Marcus Fakana was detained for several days at Dubai’s “notorious” Al Barsha police station after the “strict” mother of the 17-year-old girl he had sex with on holiday this summer alerted Dubai authorities. .
The couple, who met while staying in the same hotel with their families, “had a great time together” with the girl, also British, but the girl was afraid to tell her mother that she was seeing the boy. It is said that they met in secret. .
But in a shocking turn of events, Marcus, who was on a family trip to celebrate his father’s birthday, was subjected to harsh punishments when the girl’s furious mother found out about the affair and reported it to the police upon her return to Dubai. He could end up spending 20 years in a UAE prison. England.
Although the relationship was legal in the UK, a 17-year-old is considered a child under Dubai law. The girl turned 18 years old.
Marcus’ family has set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for legal costs to bring Marcus home, saying: “What was supposed to be a happy time turned into a nightmare for him, our family and friends. Things have changed,” he said.
“This happened as a result of someone trying to misuse UAE law against him.
“He is being charged with a crime that could result in up to 20 years in prison.
The family of Marcus Fakana, from Tottenham, London, who is stranded in Dubai and faces the possibility of up to 20 years in prison, said his mental health was “deteriorating”.
Marcus and his family hope to raise £20,000 for legal costs.
“He’s only 18, very scared and his mental health is starting to decline.”
Dubai has just revised its laws regarding extramarital sex among tourists, but it upholds a strict Islamic legal system and has no firm age of consent rules.
However, local law defines a child as anyone under 18 years of age. When the two met in August, the girl was just a few months away from turning 18.
The teenagers intended to continue their relationship upon returning to London.
However, the mother is said to have learned of their relationship when she searched her daughter’s phone and discovered chats and photos, which she later shared with Dubai police from the safety of the UK.
Marcus was still on vacation with his family when police suddenly showed up at his hotel and he was detained for three days at Al Barsha Police Station.
He continues to pursue his case in Dubai and his family hope to raise £20,000 for legal fees, accommodation and travel costs to return to the UK.
Legal fees alone could cost up to £21,000.
On a GoFundMe page set up two months ago, the family claims Marcus was denied an interpreter and forced to sign a confession he did not understand.
They said, “He has been wrongly accused of a crime he did not commit and is currently embroiled in a legal battle in Dubai.”
“This is not just a misunderstanding, this is racism where someone is trying to use UAE law against him.
“While in custody, he was denied access to an interpreter and was forced to sign a confession document that he did not understand. He is only 18 years old, but he is very scared and very scared.
“His mental state is rapidly deteriorating.”
Marcus told Dubai-based aid group Detained that he planned to meet the couple when they returned home.
Marcus said: “We had a great time together and we loved each other very much, but she was strict with her family so we kept it a secret.”
“My parents knew about our relationship, but she couldn’t tell me. She had to meet me without telling me that she was there to meet a boy.
“When she left, I couldn’t wait to see her again when I got home. Then suddenly the police knocked on the hotel door.
The 18-year-old boy was detained at the notorious Dubai Police Station after the mother of the then-17-year-old girl he was dating on holiday alerted authorities.
“They said they were taking me in for questioning, but they didn’t tell me why. I couldn’t imagine what it was for. I was scared and my parents were scared too. .”
The two tried to spend as much time together as possible while abroad, and were hoping to get to know each other more when they returned to London.
The girl left Dubai first, and the two had promised to meet.
‘he [Marcus] “We were told that his girlfriend’s mother reported the relationship to the authorities in Dubai after she returned to London,” CEO Radha Sterling said. detained in dubai and human rights defenders.
The organization provides confidential legal assistance to people facing civil and criminal legal issues in the UAE.
“It’s clearly a very strict mother to involve the police in a private matter that is perfectly legal in the country where she lives and where her children grew up,” Stirling warned.
“Maybe she didn’t know that she had caused a young man, just 18 years old, to potentially spend the next 20 years in prison.”
“My mother is a cleaner and my father works in a warehouse. They had saved up for this one-time vacation and now they have spent all their savings,” Marcus explained. .
“The police have asked for Dh10,000 as bail, but I hear that this is not normal and the cost is rising.” I’m alone here. I hope this nightmare is over and I can go home for Christmas. ”
Marcus and his family are now appealing to the UK Foreign Secretary for help.
“Dubai Police has the power to drop the charges against Marcus and send him home,” Stirling said.
“This is not what we want to do to our young people. We ask MP David Lamy to take this message to his UAE parliamentarians.”
The UAE has only recently changed its laws to allow tourists to have sex outside of marriage, and has looser regulations on alcohol and e-cigarettes.
A British couple imprisoned In 2010, he was charged with kissing in public and was ultimately deported for violating the country’s decency laws.
Stirling says that despite the changes in the law, parents are soon becoming “afraid to take their older teens on vacation for activities that are perfectly legal in their own country, and You may end up losing your life,” he warns.
“This case was initiated in response to a complaint filed by the mother of a 17-year-old British girl,” Dubai Public Prosecutors Office said in a statement shared with MailOnline.
“The girl is a tourist visiting Dubai and is not a resident of the UAE. Under UAE law, the girl is legally classified as a minor, and according to internationally recognized procedures, His mother, who is his legal guardian, filed a complaint.
“Dubai’s legal system is committed to protecting the rights of all individuals and ensuring fair judicial procedures. Contrary to some media reports, the next hearing will be held at the request of the defendant’s lawyer. It is scheduled for December 9th.
“The media should avoid speculation and allow the judiciary to fulfill its responsibilities within a clear legal framework.”
