What's happened
Marcus Fakana, an 18-year-old from Tottenham, faces trial in Dubai for engaging in a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl during a family holiday. The case has raised concerns about the UAE's strict laws regarding consensual relationships and the implications for foreign tourists. His trial is set for December 9.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Independent, Marcus Fakana's family described their ordeal as a 'nightmare' after the girl's mother reported him to the police upon their return to the UK. The Guardian highlighted the unique nature of this case, noting that both individuals are close in age, which complicates the narrative of exploitation. BBC News reported that the UK Foreign Office is involved, indicating the case's international implications and the distress it has caused to the families involved.
How we got here
Fakana was arrested after the girl's mother discovered their relationship through her phone and reported it to Dubai police. The incident highlights the stark differences between UK and UAE laws regarding age and consent.
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The United Arab Emirates, sometimes simply called the Emirates, is a sovereign state in Western Asia at the northeast end of the Arabian Peninsula on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman to the east and Saudi Arabia to the south and west, as well as sharing m
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David Lindon Lammy PC FRSA is a British Labour Party politician serving as Member of Parliament for Tottenham since 2000, and has served as Shadow Secretary of State for Justice and Shadow Lord Chancellor in Keir Starmer's Shadow Cabinet since 2020.