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Young Briton Marcus Fakana Pleads for Mercy After Dubai Imprisonment for Holiday Affair
Dubai, UAE – 9 June 2025 – British citizen Marcus Fakana, 19, has formally submitted a plea for clemency to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, after being sentenced to one year in prison over a consensual relationship with a 17-year-old British girl while both were on holiday with their parents in the UAE.
Marcus, who was just 18 at the time of the relationship, remains incarcerated in Al Awir Prison where he has now spent several months in difficult and isolating conditions. He has placed all hope in a humanitarian pardon from Dubai’s leadership.
“This has been the most traumatic and life-altering experience imaginable for Marcus,” said Radha Stirling, founder of Detained in Dubai, who is supporting the Fakana family. “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.”
Prison conditions have taken a severe toll. Marcus is only able to call his family sporadically for short periods, and the isolation has been mentally and emotionally devastating for both him and his loved ones. His parents have been urgently appealing to David Lammy MP, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and the British Embassy in Dubai for assistance in advocating for his release.
“If Marcus could go back in time, he would. 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,” Stirling added. “He’s very young and this is a heartbreaking way to begin adulthood.”
Marcus’s family is urging the public and UK authorities to join their call for clemency, emphasising the risks young Britons face when visiting countries with drastically different legal systems.
“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”, added Stirling.
Detained in Dubai warns that this case highlights the need for increased awareness and diplomatic protections for citizens abroad. “Marcus is struggling, and this experience will leave a permanent scar,” Stirling said. “We implore Sheikh Mohammed and the government of Dubai to hear his pleas and let him come home.”
Marcus continues to pray that his voice will be heard.