The government of Dubai has released a statement regarding the case of a British teenager who is facing up to 20 years in prison after he had sex with a girl on holiday.
London lad Marcus Fakana visited Dubai with his parents for a holiday in August and while out there met a girl who was also from London.
The 18-year-old teen said they 'had a wonderful time together' and he told his parents about the relationship but the girl, who was 17 at the time and has since turned 18, couldn't because her parents were strict.
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After the girl and her family returned to London her mother discovered the relationship after going through her daughter's phone, then contacted authorities in Dubai to inform them.
Police arrived at Marcus' hotel to arrest him over the relationship, which would have been legal had it taken place in London where both of them lived, and he was held at Al Barsha Police Station for three days where he couldn't contact anyone, not even his parents.
He is facing the possibility of up to 20 years in prison, with his family appealing to the UK government for help and a spokesperson for the Foreign Office confirming in a statement: "We are supporting a British man in the UAE and are in contact with his family."
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The law in Dubai was only recently changed to allow tourists to have sex outside of marriage, and both participants must be aged 18 or older.
Radha Stirling, CEO of human rights group Detained In Dubai said that Marcus didn't know the girl was 'a few months younger' than him at the time of the relationship.
According to the BBC, the government of Dubai said in a statement: "Under UAE law, the girl is legally classified as a minor, and in accordance with procedures recognised internationally, her mother - being the legal guardian - filed the complaint."
A trial for Marcus Fakana is set to begin on 9 December, with Dubai's public prosecution office saying the date was 'at the request of the defendant's legal counsel'.
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The office insisted that they were 'committed to protecting the rights of all individuals and ensuring impartial judicial proceedings'.
The family of Marcus Fakana spoke out on their 'nightmare' ordeal, as his parents have returned home to the UK and are working to pay for their son's accommodation, while he is still in Dubai, as he has been living in Airbnb properties.
They said their son was 'very scared' as he faced a trial and the prospect of prison, explaining their perspective on a GoFundMe page set up to help pay for the teenager's legal costs.
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"What was meant to be a happy time has turned into a nightmare for him, our family, and our friends," the family explained.
"This has happened as a result of someone trying to misuse UAE law against him. He is being charged with a crime that could lead to imprisonment for up to 20 years."
Topics: UK News, World News, Prison
Joe Harker