Marcus Fakana gets prison sentence in Dubai.

Don’t go on holiday to Dubai I guess. I went once for work, it felt safe sure but so many legal pitfalls.

Remember when the guy was sentenced to 4 years because there was a speck of cannabis stuck to the bottom of his shoe? Something smaller than a grain of sugar sent him to prison (they did let him out early but still….). That could happen to anyone.

The kid has been very unlucky - I find it bizarre that Dubai is seen as a fun tourist destination.

because they were 18 and 17. So no one thinks he’s some kind of paedo

I don’t do twitter or anything. Just the news and MN for me. I saw it on an image when I googled.

I suspected it was inflammatory. Just wondering if anyones seen anything official in the news. I haven’t

More fool his family for not doing the proper research and buying into the endless SM bs about Dubai. If you want to point the finger than look no further than his family.

Why discernment from his parents when they are two teens of a similar age? Both on the cusp of adulthood?

Why are his parents being blamed for her choice?

I don't know whether they would, but the four states in question clearly could as that is the law in those states. The age of consent is 18 and there is no exception where ages are close.

You don't expect other people to know what went on in your hotel bedroom let alone be reported for it.

None of them would or could prosecute an 18 year old for sex with an almost 18 year old.

I don't know, but like the naming of the mum and daughter I believe this came from Twitter - and Twitter really isn't a reputable source of information, which is worth remembering in case it starts driving reprisals

The USA does not have a universal age of consent. It varies by state. There are 4 states where the age of consent is 18 regardless of the age difference. I am not saying he would be prosecuted in those states as I don't know enough about how the authorities approach this, but the law in these states would allow him to be prosecuted in this situation.

I hadn't realised the girl's British as well! Dubai still isn't wrong for enforcing its own laws but, bloody hell, it was two British kids doing what would've been perfectly legal at home.

It is very, very like the other things tourists do that are legal at home but illegal in the host country - drinking alcohol's the obvious example. It probably felt totally normal to them, although the girl's parents are obviously strict, as she was trying to keep it secret.

I feel really sorry for them both, especially the boy who's got to spend a year in prison in a very foreign culture where he doesn't speak the language 😢

Is there any truth in reports the mother found the morning after pill in her daughters bag.

No he couldn't

apparently it is illegal to have unmarried sex in Dubai, although it’s not usually prosecuted unless one partner is under 14, unless I’ve misgoogled.

There are a lot of websites that say that (including Wikipedia), but sex outside marriage was decriminalised in January 2022.

No he wasn't the age of consent in dubai is 18. He was 18 she was the "victim" as she was 17

I don't know who that is, but if it's a GRC recognised in whatever country JD lives in, then legally, yes!

You can't just redefine words. "Legally" means just, and only that. It doesn't mean morally, physically or "in my opinion."

There are laws I disagree with but that doesn't mean I (or anyone else) can just pretend they don't exist!

All anyone can do is decide whether to follow them or not, and campaign to change them if they feel that strongly. But sticking your fingers in your ears and going "lalala, NOT a woman/NOT a child/NOT driving too fast" or whatever doesn't solve anything.

This is the main problem. A young girl sneaking around to be with your son in DUBAI of all places?

where is the discernment from his parents.

When I found out that it was the mother who had reported the boy, I instantly thought that she must be Asian or South Asian. It’s interesting because as Black people, you know that there’s people that are racist. However, in my experience, a lot of that racism and dislike comes from Asian people.

The whole situation is just really fucked up

Yes, there is. Someone on here said it was the people trafficking in Dubai that upset her, rather than the prostitutes themselves, because they were forced. But economic need is as much a state of being forced as any other. I don't think many MNters would recommend a career as a prostitute. It is what it is - not saying what it is gives a veneer of acceptability. Prostitution is misogynistic, it is about selling bits of your body for someone else to use. It demeans all women and treats women as things, as does the pornography industry. Call it what it is.
Don't gloss over it.

Wow, some sweeping generalisations made about Indian people here....made by so called anti racist people

It sounds like the only law broken was by the young man breaking Dubai law. The reporting of a crime is not an offence. However I support anyone n the UK who hopes we can change the laws in Dubai as they are very unfair indeed and different from ours. That does not mean I think our laws are perfect however.

So I have learned the background of the mother and daughter. They are British Indian. This has 100% been reported due to racism. Vindictive woman. My dad’s side of the family shares exactly the same background. A lot of British-Indians are a lot more open minded than many would suspect - they allow their kids to date, drink etc. But it has to be done in a certain way. Ie at uni, not under the parents’ nose. And definitely no black boyfriends. White maybe but black is a no go.

I’m half Indian and always been embraced by my Indian side but there are some right weirdos who are very narrow minded.

Nearly every adult knows what prostitution entails, absolutely no need for crude explanations.

Not sure what that means. Prostituted women (and men) sell the holes in their bodies or service other people's holes in the case of prostituted men. What did you think prostitution was, the Lady of the Carmelias? (Well, actually it is her - and she was as much prostituted as any women prostituted in Dubai.)
Sorry if truth offends.
And language should always be clear.