A 19-year-old British national imprisoned in Dubai for engaging in sex with a 17-year-old girl has formally pleaded for early release, writing a letter of clemency to Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Marcus Fakana, from London, was sentenced to one year in a UAE prison following a holiday romance with another British citizen, who was 17 at the time of the incident and is now 18. The relationship came under legal scrutiny when the girl’s mother discovered messages exchanged between the two and reported Fakana to Emirati authorities.
Although the age of consent in the United Kingdom is 16, the United Arab Emirates enforces a stricter standard, criminalizing sex with anyone under 18 regardless of consent.
Fakana’s legal team and a supporting human rights campaign group say the young man has expressed deep remorse and is suffering from deteriorating mental health due to his incarceration. They are urging authorities to consider the cultural and legal discrepancies that may have influenced his actions.
“Marcus was unaware that what was legal at home was criminalized in Dubai,” said a spokesperson for the advocacy group. “He’s a young man now facing life-altering consequences, and we are asking for compassion.”
The Dubai government, in response to international interest in the case, stated that the girl was legally a minor at the time of the offense and reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the rights of all individuals under UAE law.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has confirmed that it is providing consular assistance to Fakana and has been in contact with his family.
Legal experts note that this case underscores the risks foreign nationals face when traveling to jurisdictions with significantly different legal standards, especially regarding morality and family law.
No official response has yet been issued by Sheikh Mohammed or the Dubai royal court regarding Fakana’s appeal.
The case remains under intense scrutiny, with calls from human rights organizations for greater transparency and leniency in cases involving young foreign nationals.
