Marcus Fakana: Teen jailed in Dubai over holiday romance freed by royal pardon

A young Brit who spent months in a Dubai prison after having consensual sex with another teenager has been returned to the UK following his ordeal, an advocacy group has announced.

Marcus Fakana, 19, from Tottenham in North London, was jailed in the United Arab Emirates last year over a relationship with a fellow Brit, who was also from London, the two had while on holiday in the Middle East last August. The woman, who is now 18, had failed to tell Marcus she and him were not the same age when they established their relationship last year. Sex between under-18s is illegal in the UAE, and Marcus kept behind bars for months after he was arrested over the relationship by local police, who had been tipped off by the girl’s mother.

Marcus is now ‘back where he belongs’ ( 

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He had spent his birthday and New Year locked at the notorious al-Awir prison following a judge’s orders, and had turned to a royal pardon as a potential avenue for release before his return to the UK.

He pleaded with the ruler of Dubai in a letter crafted with the help of officials from the British Embassy, and backed by a “support letter” from Foreign Secretary David Lammy.

Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai, an advocacy group that played a key role in getting Marcus returned home following his nearly year-long imprisonment, said he was an “extraordinary young man caught in a deeply unjust system”.

Celebrating his return, she said: “Marcus should never have been put through this. 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.

“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’ return to the UK comes after his family and friends staged a protest in Westminster over his imprisonment, describing his year-long sentence as an injustice.

A concerted campaign was launched to bring Marcus home ( 

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Ms Sterling said the teen is now “back where he belongs” but added he has been dealt lasting “trauma” thanks to the “severe” impact of the decision.

She said: “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.”