Teen faces 20 years in jail after Dubai fling with girl

A British teenager is facing a 20-year jail sentence in Dubai after developing a holiday romance with another tourist.

- BARNEY DAVIS

Marcus Fakana, 18, was on holiday with his parents when he met a girl, 17, staying at the same hotel. After having sex, the teenagers made plans to continue their “blossoming” teenage romance when they returned to London. But he is now stuck in Dubai facing decades in prison after the girl’s parents looked through her phone and reported him to the police when they got home.

Mr Fakana, from Tottenham, north London, claims he did not know the girl was months younger than him when they met. Their relationship would be perfectly legal in the UK. Dubai has only recently legalised out-of-wedlock sex for tourists but still has a strict Islamic legal system.

“We had a wonderful time together. We really liked each other but she was secretive with her family because they were strict. 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”, Mr Fakana told the London-based campaign group Detained in Dubai.