18 year old facing Dubai jail over holiday romance stunned at lack of help from David Lammy & FCDO. 18 year old Marcus Fakana faces court on Monday after being charged with having sex with a 17 year old British girl while on holiday in September 2024. She has since turned 18 sparking bewilderment amongst the British youth culture who can imagine themselves in similar situations.
“Is Dubai really the place to go to be cool?” Radha Stirling, founder of Detained in Dubai who is helping Marcus has been fielding questions from the public since the case went viral. “Parents of teens and even the youth themselves are questioning whether Dubai is all it’s made out to be. After the excitement of a barrage of reality tv shows that paint the city as a kind of Beverly Hills, a hot destination for young influencers and those with a dream. The reality is that it can be a very dangerous place for young people”.
Marcus Fakana and his family members told Ms Stirling today they’re upset that Mr David Lammy, MP, the Foreign Secretary, has seemingly not followed up on the case.
“He sent a couple of letters but we’ve heard nothing back. I appear in court on Monday and all they have done is send a couple of letters. I am not aware of any diplomatic communications or meetings with UAE counterparts. I feel abandoned, that I am going to lose my life over this, before it’s even really begun” - Marcus Fakana
Stirling has long criticised the FCDO but praised certain MP’s and Lords for their diligent attention to supporting their constituents and promoting human rights abroad. “We have seen some superb representation from British representatives. Kenny McAskill, Emma Lewell-Buck & Crispin Blunt went above and beyond to help their constituents get home. We know it can be done and when it is, it is usually successful. We only have to look at the Vice President Elect, JD Vance, and his recent and phenomenal success in helping two Ohio brothers facing Dubai prison and Ireland’s massive intervention to bring Tori Towey home as examples of what can be achieved when there is a will. The UK is better positioned than most countries to help their citizens.
“Marcus is 18 years old, but faces the demise of his entire life for being intimate with someone in his same school year, who is his same age. This is where Dubai authorities need to be intelligent about their application of the law. Marcus had consensual relations with someone his own age, from his own country while on a short holiday. He does not deserve to be locked up in Dubai Central Prison for a fling”.
Detained in Dubai suggests that travel warnings are actively issued to tourists at the point of ticket purchase and that check-in operators ask passengers if they are travelling with any objects or prescriptions that could be illegal in the transit country or final destination. “This would potentially prevent unnecessary arrests and is quite a simple, non-invasive procedure to protect citizens”, says Ms Stirling. “The best solution is prevention. We encourage travellers to take our risk assessment quiz and order a police status check before visiting Dubai. This would reduce arrests significantly.
“We hope Dubai authorities will see the sense in allowing Marcus to come home before Christmas. He has truly been through enough. This experience will leave lifelong scars. I really feel his pain when we talk.”
