December 30th 2024.
Several inmates have come forward to report the appalling conditions at Dubai's Al Awir prison. Among them is British teenager Marcus Fakana, who is currently facing a one-year sentence for having sex with a 17-year-old girl during a holiday fling. Marcus and his family were on vacation in the UAE last September when the girl's mother reported him to the authorities. Despite his surrender, Marcus is now set to begin his imprisonment in the notorious Al Awir prison.
Desperate to avoid the "hellhole" of a prison over an act that would be legal in his home country of England, Marcus has made a plea to Dubai's ruler, Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum, to be allowed to travel back to the UK. He is devastated by the allegations and insists that he never intended to break the law. "Let me go home. Please give me my life back," he implored.
In the UAE, it is considered a crime to engage in sexual activity with someone under the age of 18 outside of marriage. This law is what Marcus is now facing, with a possible sentence of up to 20 years in jail. Al Awir prison, where he will be housed, is notorious for its brutal conditions. Inmates have reported suffering from horrific illnesses and being tortured for confessions. It is also known for being a place where rape is a daily occurrence, with both inmates and guards carrying out violent assaults.
British citizen Karl Williams, who was held in the prison for a year in 2012, described the intense conditions he faced, including seeing men stabbed to death and being electrocuted in the testicles by guards. Another former inmate, Zara-Jayne Moisey, who was imprisoned after reporting her own rape, described it as the most frightening experience of her life. "It was absolute torture," she said. "They kept the lights off in the day so we'd be eating in pitch blackness. Then they turned them on at night so no one could sleep."
Conditions for women in the prison are said to be even more brutal, with reports of overcrowding and lack of access to sunlight and basic necessities. Inmate Dinchi Lar, who spent three months in Al Awir, described having to sleep on the floor of her overcrowded cell and only being allowed outside for 15 minutes every day.
Foreign detainees in Al Awir have also reported being denied life-saving HIV treatment, despite regular testing. In a statement to the BBC, the UAE government claimed to uphold the highest standards of prisoner treatment and non-discrimination based on health conditions. However, inmates have said that prison officials are indifferent to their requests for care, and those who are HIV-positive face stigma and discrimination.
Marcus and his family are now hoping for a pardon from Dubai's ruler, Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help with legal costs, with donations exceeding £45,000. The charity Detained in Dubai has also called for assistance from Foreign Secretary David Lammy and the UK's embassy in the UAE.
CEO of Detained in Dubai, Radha Stirling, hopes that the government of Dubai will see the unfairness of imprisoning a young tourist for something that is legal in his own country. She also hopes that Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum will show compassion and commute Marcus's sentence. Speaking to Stirling, Marcus expressed his hope for a pardon and his focus on his health and mental well-being during his time in prison.
It is a difficult situation for a young man to face, and Marcus's bravery and kindness are admirable. He is hopeful that his ordeal will end soon and that the UK government will assist in appealing for a pardon. As Stirling says, "It is difficult to have the right words to tell a young man turning himself in for a year in Dubai prison. He's very brave and kind, and I truly hope he will be home soon."
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