An 18-year-old British man, Marcus Fakana, is appealing for clemency from Dubai's ruler after being sentenced to one year in prison for having a consensual sexual relationship with a 17-year-old British girl while on vacation.
Fakana, from north London, met the girl, who has since turned 18, during a family holiday in Dubai in September. Despite their relationship being legal in the UK, Dubai law prohibits any person aged under 18 from engaging in sexual relationships.
The relationship came to light when the girl's mother found messages and photos and filed a complaint with Dubai police. Fakana was arrested at his hotel and later sentenced, BBC reported.
"I never intended to break the law," Fakana said through the campaign group Detained in Dubai. "I am asking His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum to please forgive me and pardon me. Let me go home. Please give me my life back."
Fakana, currently on bail, is awaiting the outcome of an appeal. His parents, who returned to the UK to work and support his legal battle, have described the situation as a "devastating" ordeal.
Radha Stirling, founder of Detained in Dubai, has criticized the sentence, calling it "unfathomable."
"It does not warrant a year in jail, doesn't warrant tearing this family apart and ruining this young 18-year-old's life," Stirling said, expressing confidence that the appeal would succeed but questioning the time and diplomatic effort it could take.
Dubai authorities previously defended the ruling, stating that the complaint followed international procedures. "Dubai's legal system is committed to protecting the rights of all individuals and ensuring impartial judicial proceedings," the government stated.
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