Teen jailed in Dubai for holiday romance freed after royal pardon
Marcus Fakana, now 19, received a royal pardon from Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Detained in Dubai said.
The campaign group, which provides legal assistance to foreigners jailed in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and other Gulf states, said that Fakana returned to the UK on July 3 and 'is currently recovering'.
Fakana was with his parents in the UAE from the end of August when a 'holiday romance blossomed' with another Londoner, who has since turned 18, the campaign group previously said.
It is alleged that after returning to the UK and seeing pictures and chats, the girl's mother reported the relationship to Dubai police, who then arrested Fakana at his hotel.
Fakana was sentenced to one year in jail for the relationship.
His case attracted widespread attention, with Sir Keir Starmer calling his arrest an 'extremely distressing' situation.
At the time of Fakana's sexual relationship with the girl, he was only a few months older than her, and their relationship would have been consensual under UK law.
But in Dubai, if an adult has a sexual relationship with a person under 18, they can be prosecuted for having a sexual relationship with a minor.
Radha Stirling, chief executive of Detained in Dubai, said in a statement: 'His case has attracted significant public attention due to concerns about the criminalisation of tourists and disproportionate sentencing.
'We believe this case highlights the urgent need for expedited legal processes for foreign nationals and safeguards against unnecessary custodial sentences.'
She continued, 'We hope his story will prompt serious reconsideration of the UK's travel advice and its engagement with the UAE on human rights issues.
'Dubai could have chosen to fine and to deport him. Instead, the 18-year-old was sentenced to one year in prison.
'The impact on his life has been severe and there was no need for him to endure such trauma'.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has been contacted for comment.
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