Overview

• Marcus Fakana was sentenced in December to a year behind bars after a consensual holiday relationship with a 17-year-old British girl ran afoul of the UAE’s 18-year age-of-consent law.
• He has formally petitioned Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for clemency and awaits a decision expected by the end of June.
• Fakana is serving his term at Al Awir Prison under isolating conditions with limited family contact that have strained his mental well-being.
• His parents, supported by Detained in Dubai, have appealed to Foreign Secretary David Lammy, the British Embassy in Dubai and the UK Foreign Office for help.
• The case underscores the legal hazards that young travellers face when visiting countries with stricter personal conduct laws than the UK.