‘I Pray This Nightmare Will Be Over’: Black Teen Faces 20 Years In Jail For Sex During Dubai Vacation

Source: Detained In Dubai / Detained in Dubai

An 18-year-old Black man from Britain could spend 20 years in a Dubai prison for having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old British girl while on a family vacation in the emirate.

According to BBC, Marcus Fakana, of Tottenham, north London, was on vacation in Dubai with his family in September when he met a girl who was staying in the same hotel and they began a secret romance, who has since turned 18.

After the London girl returned home, the girl’s mother found pictures and chats in her daughter’s phone of the secret romance and reported the relationship to the Dubai police.

Marcus Fakana was then arrested at his hotel and detained in Dubai, according to Radha Stirling, the founder and chief executive of Detained in Dubai, an organization that advocates for foreigners who experience legal issues in the UAE.

Stirling also told BBC that Fakana’s parents, who work as a cleaner and in a warehouse, were “extremely distressed” about their son’s arrest and “don’t know what to do.”

“It’s a unique case in that it’s the first one we’ve brought to the media where it’s a British citizen and where the age difference is so small,” said Stirling.

She continued, “We are not talking about any abuse or taking advantage of anyone. This is clearly just a case of two older teenagers, both of them now the same age, who have been caught up because a mother reported the behavior.”

Marcus Fakana told Detained In Dubai that the two liked each other quite a bit and tried to spend as much time with each other as they could during vacation, but they had to keep their relationship a secret because of the girl’s parents.

“We really liked each other, but she was secretive with her (British-Indian) family because they were strict, Fakana said. “My parents knew about our relationship, but she couldn’t tell hers. She had to meet me without telling them it was to see a boy.”

He continued, “When she left, I couldn’t wait to see her again when I got home. Then suddenly, police knocked on our hotel door. They said they were taking me in for questioning but wouldn’t tell me why. I couldn’t imagine what for. I was frightened and my parents were terrified”.

According to Detained In Dubai, Marcus Fakana was held at the Al Barsha Police Station for three days and was not allowed to make phone calls or speak with his parents.

“They were worried sick,” said Stirling. “He was told his girlfriend’s mother had reported the relationship to authorities in Dubai after she had arrived back in London. Marcus later found out the mother had looked on her daughter’s phone and found their chats and pictures. She was furious and reported him to Dubai’s police.

Now, Marcus and his family are trying to keep hope, but it’s costing them a fortune.

“I’m living in Airbnb’s that are costing my family £2,000 [approximately $2,500 U.S dollars] per month, Marcus told Detained In Dubai. “They had to go home to work. They earn a humble living, my mother is a cleaner and my dad works in a warehouse. They saved up for this one-off holiday and they have now used all of their savings. The police demanded 10,000 AED [approximately $2,700 U.S. dollars] for bail, which I’ve been told is not normal and the costs are mounting. I’m here all alone. I pray this nightmare will be over and I’ll be home for Christmas.”

According to Detained In Dubai, Dubai has only recently legalized out-of-wedlock sex for tourists but still hosts a strict Islamic legal system.

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