UK Teen Marcus Fakana Begins Dubai Jail Term Over Relationship With 17-Year-Old

The 18-year-old Briton was sentenced to one year in prison under UAE law after the girl's mother reported their relationship to authorities.

Marcus Fakana, 18, was convicted in Dubai for having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl while both were on holiday with their families.
The relationship, which began in September, was reported to Dubai police by the girl's mother after she discovered messages and photos on her daughter's phone.
Under UAE law, sex with anyone under 18 is a criminal offense, even if consensual, leading to Fakana's one-year sentence in Al Awir prison.
Fakana's family, supported by the campaign group Detained in Dubai, is seeking a pardon from Dubai's ruler and assistance from UK officials, including Foreign Secretary David Lammy.
A fundraiser for Fakana's legal costs has raised over £45,000, and concerns have been raised about the conditions in Dubai's prisons and the impact on his mental and physical well-being.