British teen jailed in Dubai for consensual sex returns to UK
Marcus Fakana, 19, from Tottenham, north London, was given a royal pardon for his early release from the al-Awir prison in the United Arab Emirates. He arrived back in the UK on Thursday.
In December last year, the apprentice builder, then aged 18, was sentenced to one year in jail after having sex with a 17-year-old from the UK who was on holiday with her parents. Sex with anyone under the age of 18 is an offence in the conservative Gulf state.
Fakana was given an 'Eid pardon', which can be issued by the monarch or president as a gesture of compassion during the religious holidays.
• Facing jail in Dubai was hell — but I'm going back in two weeks
The campaign group Detained in Dubai, which has been campaigning for his release, confirmed Fakana was 'officially pardoned' by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai and prime minister of the UAE.
'Marcus should never have been put through this,' Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai, said.
'He was supposed to spend a short few days with his family but ended up spending nearly a year in the tourist destination. We are thrilled that after an intensive campaign, he was officially pardoned and is home safe, surrounded by those who love him.'
Sex with under-18s is an offence in Dubai
ALAMY
The group previously criticised David Lammy, the foreign secretary and Fakana's local MP, for being reluctant to help. The Foreign Office had said it was assisting with the case.
Fakana had joined his parents for a short holiday on August 26 last year when he met a 17-year-old Londoner staying at the same hotel. The girl's mother is alleged to have reported the relationship to Dubai police after returning to the UK and seeing pictures and chats on her daughter's phone.
Dubai police arrested Fakana at his hotel. The girl, who was just one month short of her 18th birthday at the time of the incident, would have been arrested had she remained in the emirate.
• Marcus Fakana: I pray I'll be deported from Dubai
'Marcus is back where he belongs,' Stirling said. 'But no one should have to endure this. He was 18 at the time and the British woman involved is now 18 too.
'Dubai could have chosen to fine and to deport him. Instead, the 18-year-old was sentenced to one year in prison.'
Speaking about Fakana, Stirling added: 'He is so grateful for all of the support he received throughout this painful situation. Marcus will take a short time to recover before telling his story in his own words.'
A Foreign Office spokesperson said: 'He was released on an Eid pardon last week. We understand he wanted to get back to the UK without media attention and to see his family. We supported him and were in contact with them.'
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