December 12th 2024.
A shocking story has emerged of an 18-year-old British teenager, Marcus Fakana, who has been sentenced to a year of jail time in Dubai for having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old British girl. According to the BBC, Fakana was on vacation with his family in the UAE when he spent time and allegedly had sex with the unnamed girl, who was also on holiday with her family.
The situation took a turn when the girl's mother discovered the relationship after their families had returned home to London. Distraught and alarmed, the mother immediately alerted the Dubai Police after finding text messages and photos that documented the teens' time together.
Since September, Fakana has been detained by the UAE government, as it is illegal to have sex with anyone under the age of 18. He has expressed feeling abandoned by the British government, as reported by Detained In Dubai, a campaign organization dedicated to helping foreigners who have been arrested and detained due to the country's strict laws.
The founder and chief executive of Detained in Dubai, Radha Stirling, believes that the punishment given to Fakana is excessive and does not fit the crime. She stated, "a custodial sentence for consensual sex between two tourists who were only supposed to be there for a short time does not warrant a year in jail. It doesn't warrant tearing this family apart and ruining this young 18-year-old's life."
The organization, which includes experts in foreign law, also believes that Fakana's counsel was ineffective and mishandled the initial aspects of the case. Lawyers for Fakana are seeking an appeal and hope that he can be charged with a lesser offense.
Stirling further elaborated, saying, "[Marcus] was desperately hoping to come home this week, but prosecutorial mishandling in the first stages of the case meant it wasn't heard as a misdemeanor when it should have been."
This case is not the first time that foreigners have faced harsh consequences for violating UAE law. Earlier this year, a Black couple was convicted of smuggling marijuana into the country and sentenced to life in prison. The couple, a Gambian woman and a Nigerian man, were detained at the Dubai International Airport on Jan. 2, where 4,290.86 grams of marijuana were found during a customs screening.
After a thorough investigation that included examining phone records and conducting drug screenings, the courts ruled against the couple. They both claimed to have no knowledge of the drugs in their luggage, but the courts found their argument "implausible." The defendants were sentenced on Nov. 28 and will be deported to their country of origin if released.
This tragic case serves as a reminder of the strict laws in the UAE and the consequences that can be faced by those who violate them. It is important for travelers to be aware of and abide by the laws of the countries they visit to avoid such dire circumstances.
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