A British teenager, Marcus Fakana, aged 18, from Tottenham, north London, has been sentenced to one year in a UAE prison following a consensual sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl during a holiday in Dubai.
The case has sparked significant controversy and criticism, particularly regarding the response of the British government.
Fakana was arrested in August after the girl's mother discovered their relationship through her daughter's phone and reported it to the Dubai authorities upon returning to the UK.
Under UAE law, tourists under the age of 18 are prohibited from engaging in sexual activities, leading to Fakana's conviction despite the consensual nature of the relationship.
The legal proceedings have left Fakana's family devastated. They have expressed feelings of abandonment by the British government, criticizing Foreign Secretary David Lammy for not providing adequate support.
Radha Stirling, founder of Detained In Dubai, an organization assisting Fakana, described the sentence as "an utter disgrace" and "an embarrassment to Britain." She further stated, "Marcus feels abandoned by the British government and Keir Starmer who just spent the weekend in the UAE."
The family is planning to appeal the sentence, arguing that the case should have been treated as a misdemeanor. They have also issued a plea to the ruler of Dubai, HH Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum, to reconsider the harsh punishment for what they describe as a youthful indiscretion.
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