British Teen Sentenced to Year in Dubai

Marcus Fakana, an 18-year-old Briton from Tottenham, has been sentenced to one year in prison in Dubai for engaging in a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old British girl while on holiday. The romance began in September, but the girl's mother reported the relationship to authorities after they returned to the UK, leading to Fakana's arrest. His family and representatives from the campaign group Detained in Dubai claim that the sentence is an 'utter disgrace' and that the British government has not provided adequate support. They have issued a plea to Dubai's ruler, Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum, for leniency, arguing that the relationship would be legal in the UK. Fakana plans to appeal the sentence, citing prosecutorial mishandling that prevented the case from being treated as a misdemeanour. The Foreign Office has stated that they are in contact with his family and providing support.