this post was submitted on 11 Dec 2024
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Marcus, from Tottenham, North London, had been enjoying a holiday with his parents when he met a fellow Brit at the same hotel. A holiday fling sparked and the pair spent time together until the girl, also from London, flew back to Britain.

In Dubai, if an adult has a sexual relationship with a person under 18, they can be prosecuted for having a sexual relationship with a minor. The relationship would be legal in the UK.

Marcus and his parents were set to fly back shortly after - but their plans were thrown into chaos when police knocked on their hotel room door. The "terrified" teenager was then reportedly hauled in for questioning without any explanation and held at the Al Barsha Police Station, DID said. He spent three days there, during which time he was not allowed to make a phone call or speak with his parents, it is claimed.

(page 4) 33 comments
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[–] Cyyris@infosec.pub 16 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (4 children)

As I'm reading this story I keep wondering...
How in the hell did the authorities even catch wind of this even happening?
Did someone report them?
Are all the rooms tapped and monitored Stasi-style?

[–] Dashmezzo@lemm.ee 18 points 1 week ago

Mother of girl reported him after they had left and he was still there.

Teenagers in love are hardly subtle. Staff probably reported them.

[–] Zahille7@lemmy.world 5 points 1 week ago (2 children)

What's up with the breaks as if you're writing poetry?

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[–] tal@lemmy.today 15 points 1 week ago (1 children)

On one hand, yeah, that sucks.

On the other hand, you go to a foreign country, you're subject to their laws, and it's on you to be aware of them.

There are weapons that I could happily lug around in the US that the UK would take issue with if I were to be doing so in the UK. Do I personally feel that British law is going the right way on this? No. However, it's British territory, and so British law has jurisdiction. Saying "but I'm from the US and that would be perfectly legal back home" isn't going to carry a lot of water with British courts, or, I expect, with British public opinion.

Similarly, a Brit can't exactly go to the UAE and just do as one does in the UK and expect the UAE to accept it because something's legal in the UK. International travel is a lot cheaper and easier than it ever has been historically, but once you walk across the line of a sovereign territory, it's got real consequences, and if you choose to travel internationally, it's on you to be aware of them. That country isn't just a tourism spot for people from Country X, but a home for people who live there. They've got their own rules and concerns.

The chief executive of campaign group Detained in Dubai said Mr Fakana felt abandoned by the British government. He's expected to appeal against his sentence.

I don't really see a reasonable complaint against the British government here, at least from the article text.

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[–] tigeruppercut@lemmy.zip 6 points 1 week ago

"Wasn't me."

[–] cabron_offsets@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago

Backward degenerates.

[–] darthsid@lemmy.world -2 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Poor Marcus - I have a feeling this wouldn’t be an issue if he was white.

[–] justOnePersistentKbinPlease@fedia.io 25 points 1 week ago (1 children)

If he was Arab

Fixed that for you. This is in the extremely oppressive Dubai/UAE where any kind of extramarital thing is very much illegal.

[–] darthsid@lemmy.world 4 points 1 week ago
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