Marcus Fakana, 19, was arrested and imprisoned in Dubai earlier this year over a consensual holiday relationship with another British national who was a matter of months younger than him
A young Brit who spent months in a Dubai prison after having consensual sex with another teenager has been returned to the UK following his ordeal, an advocacy group has announced.
Marcus, 19, from Tottenham in North London, was jailed in the United Arab Emirates last year over a relationship with a fellow Brit, who was also from London, which he had established while on holiday in the Middle East last August.
Sex between under-18s is illegal in the UAE, and Marcus kept behind bars for months after he was arrested over the relationship by local police, who had been informed of the relationship by the girl’s mother.
He had spent his birthday and New Year locked at the notorious al-Awir prison following a judge’s orders, and had turned to a royal pardon as a potential avenue for release before his return to the UK.
Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai, an advocacy group that played a key role in getting Marcus returned home following his nearly year-long imprisonment, said he was an “extraordinary young man caught in a deeply unjust system”.
Celebrating his return, she said: “Marcus should never have been put through this. He was supposed to spend a short few days with his family but ended up spending nearly a year in the tourist destination.
“We are thrilled that after an intensive campaign, he was officially pardoned and is home safe, surrounded by those who love him.
“This was an extraordinary young man caught in a deeply unjust system. We thank everyone who stood by Marcus and helped bring him home.”
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