Latest news with #RadhaStirling
Daily Mail
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
British teenager jailed in Dubai for sex with fellow UK tourist is HOME after being freed following royal pardon
A British teenager jailed in Dubai for having sex with a fellow UK tourist he met on holiday has been released from a hellhole prison after seven months, it was revealed today. Campaign group Detained in Dubai has said Marcus Fakana, 19, received a royal pardon from Dubai's ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Mr Fakana, from Tottenham, north London, returned to the UK last Thursday following his jail time in the United Arab Emirates. Marcus was arrested and imprisoned last year over a consensual holiday relationship with another British tourist who was just a few months younger than himself - a fact he was not aware of at the time. The girl was one month away from turning 18, but sex with anyone under the age of 18 is an offence in the Gulf state. They met when both their families were staying at a luxury hotel. The girl's mother reported Marcus - who was aged 18 at the time - to the UAE authorities after seeing messages between the two when she had returned to the UK. His case drew widespread attention and outrage, highlighting the UAE's harsh laws that criminalise personal relationships and critics say disproportionately target foreign nationals. Radha Stirling, CEO of campaign group Detained in Dubai, told MailOnline that his freedom from Al Awir Prison had come a few weeks after an application for a Royal pardon. 'Marcus should never have been put through this,' she 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.' His release follows sustained pressure from Detained in Dubai's legal and advocacy teams, as well as public support, behind-the-scenes diplomatic discussions and a royal pardon application. The family confirmed his arrival and expressed immense gratitude for the support received throughout the campaign. She added: 'This was an extraordinary young man caught in a deeply unjust system. We thank everyone who stood by Marcus and helped bring him home.' 'Marcus is back where he belongs, but no one should have to endure this. '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'. Detained in Dubai has long criticised the UAE for having double standards, saying 'foreign visitors are treated as hardened criminals for the pettiest of conduct, while Emiratis and Gulf nationals involved in serious sex related crime and prostitution are given a free pass.' Detained in Dubai has helped more than 25,000 foreigners facing legal issues abroad over the past 18 years and continues to call for urgent reform of laws that routinely entrap and criminalise innocent visitors to the UAE. The organisation continues to support individuals facing legal jeopardy in the Gulf region and has assisted over 25,000 people in cases involving wrongful detention, travel risks, and legal abuse. Last month, as Marcus appealed for a pardon, Stirling said: 'This has been the most traumatic and life-altering experience imaginable for Marcus. 'He is barely an adult himself, and never intended to break any law. What happened was legal in the UK and consensual. But now he is facing permanent damage to his mental health and future prospects because of it.' She said Marcus was only able to call his family sporadically for short periods, adding that the isolation had been mentally and emotionally devastating for both him and his loved ones. His parents had been urgently appealing to Foreign Secretary David Lammy, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the British Embassy in Dubai for assistance in advocating for his release. 'If Marcus could go back in time, he would,' added Stirling. 'He has shown remorse and fully respects the laws of the UAE. He only hopes the government will show compassion and allow him to return home to rebuild his life. He's very young and this is a heart-breaking way to begin adulthood.' 'We are thrilled that after an intensive campaign, he was officially pardoned and is home safe, surrounded by those who love him. 'This was an extraordinary young man caught in a deeply unjust system. We thank everyone who stood by Marcus and helped bring him home.' She added: 'Marcus is back where he belongs but no one should have to endure this. He was 18 at the time and the British woman involved is now 18 too, a fact she did not divulge to him at the time. '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'. Detained in Dubai has long criticised the UAE for having double standards, saying 'foreign visitors are treated as hardened criminals for the pettiest of conduct, while Emiratis and Gulf nationals involved in serious sex related crime and prostitution are given a free pass.' Detained in Dubai has helped more than 25,000 foreigners facing legal issues abroad over the past 18 years and continues to call for urgent reform of laws that routinely entrap and criminalise innocent visitors to the UAE. The organisation continues to support individuals facing legal jeopardy in the Gulf region and has assisted over 25,000 people in cases involving wrongful detention, travel risks, and legal abuse. Last month, as Marcus appealed for a pardon, Stirling said: 'This has been the most traumatic and life-altering experience imaginable for Marcus. 'He is barely an adult himself, and never intended to break any law. What happened was legal in the UK and consensual. But now he is facing permanent damage to his mental health and future prospects because of it.' She said Marcus was only able to call his family sporadically for short periods, adding that the isolation had been mentally and emotionally devastating for both him and his loved ones. His parents had been urgently appealing to Foreign Secretary David Lammy, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the British Embassy in Dubai for assistance in advocating for his release. 'If Marcus could go back in time, he would,' added Stirling. 'He has shown remorse and fully respects the laws of the UAE. He only hopes the government will show compassion and allow him to return home to rebuild his life. He's very young and this is a heart-breaking way to begin adulthood.' Last December MailOnline revealed that the holiday romance between Marcus and the 17-year-old girl, just a few months short of her 18th birthday, began in the £210-a-night Hilton Dubai Palm Jumeirah, where their families were both staying. After the girl and her family returned to the UK, her mother reported Marcus to the Dubai authorities after finding birth control pills in her daughter's luggage, according to legal documents seen by the Mail. Initially, Marcus was accused of rape, but was only cleared when police reviewed hotel CCTV footage which showed the girl going into his hotel bedroom at 4am. It is not clear whether the accusation of rape originally came from the girl's mother or was due to a misunderstanding or mistranslation by police officers, but the term 'raped by force' in Arabic appeared on the initial police report. Although never charged with rape, the fact that the girl was 17 put her under Dubai's age of sexual consent and Marcus was convicted of having under-age sex. His ordeal began in late August when the girl's mother – who MailOnline isn't naming – discovered birth control pills in her daughter's luggage when they returned home from a luxury break in the Gulf state. Apprentice builder Marcus was arrested when officers swooped on his hotel at 7.30pm on August 31 while he was still on holiday. He told officers he'd had consensual sex with the girl on three occasions. His version of events was backed up when officers viewed the CCTV footage of the pair. When he was sentenced last December, Marcus told how he was 'shocked beyond belief' by the year-long sentence handed out for having consensual sex with the girl, without her parents' knowledge. In records of the court hearing obtained by MailOnline the chief investigator told the court that the initial complaint from the girl's mother was passed to the Dubai authorities by the British Embassy, but the Foreign Office later denied this. The prosecutor told the court: 'We were informed that we received a complaint via the Dubai Police application, from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stating that they received notification from the British Embassy regarding a complaint filed by [name redacted] stating that her daughter, 17 years old, was subjected to forced indecent assault by the aforementioned accused [delete while they were staying at the Hilton Palm Jumeirah Hotel in Dubai.' A Foreign Office spokesperson told MailOnline at the time: 'The British Embassy Dubai was not involved in reporting any offence to the UAE authorities. 'They have informed the UAE authorities of the error in their records and all other interested parties are also aware.' According to an official report of the court hearing in Dubai, which is closed to the public – and even Marcus as the defendant had to wait outside, he told investigators that sex 'was with the victim's consent and without violence or coercion from him, and that the victim was the one who came to him and asked to have sex with her. 'And upon reviewing the surveillance camera recordings, it was found that she had indeed entered his hotel room.' In December human rights lawyer David Haigh, who is advising the Fakana family, warned that Fakana could have his sentence increased to up to 20 years. Speaking exclusively to The Mail on Sunday, Haigh said: 'The maximum sentence for a case like this is 20 years. 'It is always seen that the prosecutor really decides the sentence, but this was a low one for them. The worry is that they will not want to let this go and look weak. They may want to show they have fully upheld the law to everyone watching. Marcus will play almost no part in any prosecution appeal. 'He won't be allowed to talk or address the judge and everything will be in Arabic anyway. There won't be a translator. He'll probably be pushed into court for a minute and then pushed straight out again.' He added: 'The days ahead are fraught with difficulty.' Haigh had said at the time the main hope was that the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, would respond to Fakana's fresh plea to be pardoned by authorities and deported rather than locked up.
Times
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Times
British teen jailed in Dubai for consensual sex returns to UK
A British teenager who was jailed in Dubai after a consensual holiday romance has returned home following his release from prison, the Foreign Office has confirmed. 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.'
Sky News
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
British teenager released from Dubai jail after royal pardon
A British teenager sentenced to one year in a Dubai jail for having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl has been released after receiving a royal pardon, a campaign group has said. Marcus Fakana, 18, of Tottenham, north London, received the pardon from Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum and is safely in the UK, Detained In Dubai said. The group's chief executive Radha Stirling said Mr Fakana "is currently recovering". She added: "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." Mr Fakana was with his parents in the United Arab Emirates when a "holiday romance blossomed" with another Londoner, who has since turned 18, the campaign group previously said. He was arrested at his hotel last year after the girl's mother reported the relationship to Dubai police after she allegedly found their pictures and chats. In Dubai, the age of consent is 18.
The Independent
07-07-2025
- The Independent
Briton, 18, released from Dubai jail after receiving royal pardon
An 18-year-old man sentenced to one year in a Dubai jail for having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl has been released and is safely in the UK, a campaign group has said. Marcus Fakana, of Tottenham, north London, received a royal pardon from Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Detained in Dubai said. The group's chief executive, Radha Stirling, said Mr Fakana 'is currently recovering', adding 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.' Mr Fakana was with his parents in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from the end of August when a 'holiday romance blossomed' with another Londoner, who has since turned 18, the campaign group previously said. After returning to the UK and seeing pictures and chats, the girl's mother reported the relationship to Dubai police, who then arrested Mr Fakana at his hotel, it is alleged. 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. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has been contacted for comment.
BBC News
07-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Marcus Fakana: Teen jailed in Dubai for sex with girl is released
A British teenager jailed in Dubai for having sex with a 17-year-old girl has been released and is back in the Fakana, 19, from Tottenham, north London, was sentenced in December to a year's imprisonment after a consensual relationship with the girl, who is also British, while on holiday in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The age of consent in the UAE is has received a royal pardon from Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, campaign group Detained in Dubai has said. A Foreign and Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) spokesperson said: "He was released on a 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."Detained in Dubai's chief executive, Radha Stirling, said Mr Fakana "is currently recovering".She added: "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."Mr Fakana was with his parents in the UAE from the end of August last year when a "holiday romance blossomed", with another Londoner, who has since turned 18, the campaign group previously girl's mother reported Fakana to the UAE authorities after seeing messages between the two when she had returned to the Fakana recently wrote to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, from Al Awir Prison asking to be Eid pardon in Muslim countries can be given to inmates by the monarch or president as a gesture of compassion and a way to offer individuals a second chance during religious holidays. "Parents need to be aware that teens can be charged in the UAE for behaviour that would not be considered criminal at home, whether that's a relationship, social media activity, or even drinking alcohol," Ms Stirling government of Dubai previously said: "Under UAE law, the girl is legally classified as a minor and, in accordance with procedures recognised internationally, her mother - being the legal guardian - filed the complaint."It added: "Dubai's legal system is committed to protecting the rights of all individuals and ensuring impartial judicial proceedings."
