Demonstrators rallied through central London to advocate for the release of a teenager imprisoned in Dubai for engaging in sexual relations with a 17-year-old British girl.
Marcus Fakana, hailing from Tottenham in north London, was sentenced last month for having sex with the girl, who has since turned 18, during their holiday in September.
In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the legal age of consent is 18, and the girl’s mother reported the incident to local authorities.
On Saturday, campaigners marched through Westminster, carrying a banner that read “Bring Marcus home” as they made their way from Parliament Square to Downing Street.
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The BBC reported that campaigners have claimed Marcus Fakana is being held in solitary confinement and has been cut off from any telephone access. The Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office stated that it is providing support to the British man in the UAE.
Fakana had been on bail since his arrest in September, staying in temporary accommodation in Dubai. He voluntarily surrendered to UAE authorities on December 30.
In a statement, Fakana expressed his gratitude to his supporters, saying: “Thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout my fight. It’s been a long fight, but nothing is hard with my lord and saviour Jesus Christ guiding me. I’m grateful for all the people who helped by donating to me and my family of faith for supporting me.”
There is hope that Fakana may receive a pardon from Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum.
Fakana’s family and supporters have called for the intervention of Foreign Secretary David Lammy. A fundraiser created to cover Fakana’s and his family’s legal costs has surpassed £50,000.
Radha Stirling, from the charity Detained in Dubai, previously told the BBC that Fakana’s sentence was “unfathomable.” She stated: “It does not warrant a year in jail, doesn’t warrant tearing this family apart and ruining this young 18-year-old’s life.
“I’m confident that, on appeal, the custodial sentence will be overturned and he will be allowed to return home. The question is, how long is that going to take and how much effort is that going to take, whether that’s British intervention or the public support in telling Dubai this is unacceptable?”
