Page 28 | Marcus Fakana gets prison sentence in Dubai.

Ohnonotmeagain · 2024-12-11T13:56:43+00:00

This is the 18 year old lad who had a holiday romance with a 17 year old girl in Dubai. She was just short of 18. her parents found out and reported him to the Dubai authorities before he returned home. his poor parents aren’t well off and had to return home to work leaving him there. he’s now been sentenced to 1 year in prison. aibu to think this poor boy should never have been brought before court.

JHound · 31/12/2024 13:44

Slooodie359 · 31/12/2024 13:39

Still- we only know what his family reports.

British High Commission hadn’t clarified their role and if they acted without knowing full facts. Like, are they the ones who introduced nationality as Pakistan … because they didn’t have correct info. Because nature of the crime, public will likely never know.

Girl family version of events - we don’t know what mother of minor child understood to have happened and the content of the phone messages. Possible that it was very inflammatory & upsetting. Not all hugs and kisses. There have been reports … but they are from MF family. Everything has been “poor little boy, & consent”. Girl on birth control (so this means consent? Perhaps it’s for medical reasons. Maybe she needed “morning after pill” which tells as mother story) Public have no idea if this is even true.

IMO - there is more to know than poor little boy, consent, days from birthday, already sexually active, bad mum.

The facts … lead to his conviction & incarceration. Selling your story to tabloids won’t get you set free.

Message to the world - Don’t mess about in Dubai.

Why are you calling her a “minor child”.

In the UK, where the mom was, the relationship was perfectly legal. So she saw texts that her of age child was in a relationship with a boy who was of a similar age (same school year but a couple of months older).

Why do you think this translates to concerns about a “minor child”?

JHound · 31/12/2024 13:46

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JHound · 31/12/2024 13:48

OonaStubbs · 30/12/2024 17:34

He committed a crime under Dubai law. We wouldn't expect tourists from other countries to get away with committing crimes here due to it being legal in their home country. He's got a year. It's not that long in the grand scheme of things. He just needs to keep his head down, do his time, and then come back to the UK and get on with the rest of his life.

I keep hearing this argument and I disagree.

If I learned a 16 year old German boy had sex with his 15 year old girl friend in the UK I absolutely would hope the British authorities would not bother prosecuting even though he technically broke the law. I also have a sneaking suspicion I would not be alone on that.

Please don’t assume what we all think.

NewGreenDuck · 31/12/2024 13:53

On a wider point, do you think anyone should be prosecuted if they commit a crime abroad? If the crime would not be a crime in the UK? Or not seen as seriously? Or would you say ' when in Rome'?

fairydustt · 31/12/2024 13:53

JHound · 31/12/2024 13:48

I keep hearing this argument and I disagree.

If I learned a 16 year old German boy had sex with his 15 year old girl friend in the UK I absolutely would hope the British authorities would not bother prosecuting even though he technically broke the law. I also have a sneaking suspicion I would not be alone on that.

Please don’t assume what we all think.

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Agreed, I actually think there would be uproar if we sentenced a 16 year old foreign boy to a year in prison for having consensual sex with a 15 year old a few months younger than him. It costs thousands to keep someone in prison, what a waste of money that would be!

EarthlyNightshade · 31/12/2024 13:55

JHound · 31/12/2024 13:48

I keep hearing this argument and I disagree.

If I learned a 16 year old German boy had sex with his 15 year old girl friend in the UK I absolutely would hope the British authorities would not bother prosecuting even though he technically broke the law. I also have a sneaking suspicion I would not be alone on that.

Please don’t assume what we all think.

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I'd also add that if I heard of a 16 year old girl having sex with her 15 year old boyfriend in the UK, I would not expect the girl to face criminal charges/prison sentence.
They were two months apart in age and both consenting, prison is not the answer for a crime like this.

zdcgbjm · 31/12/2024 13:56

Slooodie359 · 31/12/2024 13:39

Still- we only know what his family reports.

British High Commission hadn’t clarified their role and if they acted without knowing full facts. Like, are they the ones who introduced nationality as Pakistan … because they didn’t have correct info. Because nature of the crime, public will likely never know.

Girl family version of events - we don’t know what mother of minor child understood to have happened and the content of the phone messages. Possible that it was very inflammatory & upsetting. Not all hugs and kisses. There have been reports … but they are from MF family. Everything has been “poor little boy, & consent”. Girl on birth control (so this means consent? Perhaps it’s for medical reasons. Maybe she needed “morning after pill” which tells as mother story) Public have no idea if this is even true.

IMO - there is more to know than poor little boy, consent, days from birthday, already sexually active, bad mum.

The facts … lead to his conviction & incarceration. Selling your story to tabloids won’t get you set free.

Message to the world - Don’t mess about in Dubai.

We don't only know from his family. The court case will have been public so news organisations would have access to information from the court case directly. I have only ever heard it reported as a consensual relationship.

skymagentatwo · 31/12/2024 13:57

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Oh dear @JHound calling people trolls is against MN rules reported. Your last post was deleted for exactly the same and so thats strike 2.

But you appear to be using both the words "woman" and "girl" when it suits you, how odd perhaps that makes are a tad hypoctriical in your judgment and defense.

The girl was 16 which is legally defined as a child, as anyone who has not yet reached their 18th birthday. This is in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and civil legislation in England and Wales.

So an adult male of 18 had sex with a female child with out her parents consent in Dubai, which is against their law and customs.

JHound · 31/12/2024 13:57

RosieBurdock · 31/12/2024 13:41

That's great that the Irish government were able to secure her release. Although judging by some of the opinions about Marcus there will be some who think they shouldn't have intervened in another country's justice system and should have left her to rot.

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The Irish woman was white so I doubt many would think that.

Had she been black then yes - they will be arguing she should have been left to rot!

JHound · 31/12/2024 13:59

skymagentatwo · 31/12/2024 12:47

Well from what I read, both Marcus and his family knew how strict here family were and hid their illegal actions from them.

They disrespected her family also, so what did they expect. Seems Marcus and his family showed zero respect for neither the country they were in or her family and culture so yes, he deserves it all.

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Do you adhere to the misogynist trope that women are the property of their families?

fairydustt · 31/12/2024 14:01

skymagentatwo · 31/12/2024 13:57

Oh dear @JHound calling people trolls is against MN rules reported. Your last post was deleted for exactly the same and so thats strike 2.

But you appear to be using both the words "woman" and "girl" when it suits you, how odd perhaps that makes are a tad hypoctriical in your judgment and defense.

The girl was 16 which is legally defined as a child, as anyone who has not yet reached their 18th birthday. This is in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and civil legislation in England and Wales.

So an adult male of 18 had sex with a female child with out her parents consent in Dubai, which is against their law and customs.

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The girl was 17, not 16. She was a few weeks from being 18. Usually with something like this people would use their common sense to decide what is and what isn’t a suitable punishment. Not all crime is as black and white as you are making it seem.

skymagentatwo · 31/12/2024 14:01

JHound · 31/12/2024 13:59

Do you adhere to the misogynist trope that women are the property of their families?

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She was not a woman let me repeat it again for you, she was legally classed as a child.

The girl was 17 which is legally defined as a child, as anyone who has not yet reached their 18th birthday. This is in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and civil legislation in England and Wales.

skymagentatwo · 31/12/2024 14:02

fairydustt · 31/12/2024 14:01

The girl was 17, not 16. She was a few weeks from being 18. Usually with something like this people would use their common sense to decide what is and what isn’t a suitable punishment. Not all crime is as black and white as you are making it seem.

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Ah so you dont agree with United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and civil legislation in England and Wales. Good to know you dont make the rules.

JHound · 31/12/2024 14:04

NewGreenDuck · 31/12/2024 13:53

On a wider point, do you think anyone should be prosecuted if they commit a crime abroad? If the crime would not be a crime in the UK? Or not seen as seriously? Or would you say ' when in Rome'?

I think context is key.

I can acknowledge a country’s need to uphold their laws while also wishing for leniency in some cases. It is not black and white.

Also my position on Farkana is not because “it is legal in the UK”.

It’s that I am very uncomfortable with a racist mother, weaponising a foreign country’s law to try and find a way to keep her consenting daughter apart from the boy she wanted to date.

And also in general I think there are better uses of police time and prison spaces than prosecuting breach of age-of-consent laws between two persons a mere months apart in age.

It’s not that I think Britons should simply not have to pay attention to overseas laws. That is a wild oversimplification.

skymagentatwo · 31/12/2024 14:05

JHound · 31/12/2024 14:04

I think context is key.

I can acknowledge a country’s need to uphold their laws while also wishing for leniency in some cases. It is not black and white.

Also my position on Farkana is not because “it is legal in the UK”.

It’s that I am very uncomfortable with a racist mother, weaponising a foreign country’s law to try and find a way to keep her consenting daughter apart from the boy she wanted to date.

And also in general I think there are better uses of police time and prison spaces than prosecuting breach of age-of-consent laws between two persons a mere months apart in age.

It’s not that I think Britons should simply not have to pay attention to overseas laws. That is a wild oversimplification.

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You seem apt a calling people names in every post, you claim her mother is a rasist, thats quite a claim. Do you have any evidence of this?

JHound · 31/12/2024 14:07

skymagentatwo · 31/12/2024 13:57

Oh dear @JHound calling people trolls is against MN rules reported. Your last post was deleted for exactly the same and so thats strike 2.

But you appear to be using both the words "woman" and "girl" when it suits you, how odd perhaps that makes are a tad hypoctriical in your judgment and defense.

The girl was 16 which is legally defined as a child, as anyone who has not yet reached their 18th birthday. This is in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and civil legislation in England and Wales.

So an adult male of 18 had sex with a female child with out her parents consent in Dubai, which is against their law and customs.

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The girl was not 16, she was 17 and a few months younger than Farkana.

Call her girl or woman my point stands - do you adhere to the misogynist trope that girls / women are the property of their families?

How is he disrespecting her family by the two of them engaging in a consensual relationship?

Why is she equally not “disrespecting her family by choosing her own partner and how are we disrespecting anybody by making a choice as to who we wish to date?

I also did not call you a troll I asked if you were because your stance appeared incoherent but then I remembered it could just be simple misogyny on your part.

JHound · 31/12/2024 14:09

skymagentatwo · 31/12/2024 14:01

She was not a woman let me repeat it again for you, she was legally classed as a child.

The girl was 17 which is legally defined as a child, as anyone who has not yet reached their 18th birthday. This is in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and civil legislation in England and Wales.

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What does that have to do with my question?

Do you adhere to the misogynist trope that women / girls are the property of their families?

Do you view a 17 year old as the property of her family?

skymagentatwo · 31/12/2024 14:09

JHound · 31/12/2024 14:07

The girl was not 16, she was 17 and a few months younger than Farkana.

Call her girl or woman my point stands - do you adhere to the misogynist trope that girls / women are the property of their families?

How is he disrespecting her family by the two of them engaging in a consensual relationship?

Why is she equally not “disrespecting her family by choosing her own partner and how are we disrespecting anybody by making a choice as to who we wish to date?

I also did not call you a troll I asked if you were because your stance appeared incoherent but then I remembered it could just be simple misogyny on your part.

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Are you claiming that a child (Girl) as decribed under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and civil legislation in England and Wales. Do not belong and under the custody of their appointed and legal guardians in this case the girls parents. She was not 18.

NewGreenDuck · 31/12/2024 14:09

But not obeying the law, has ended up here, hasn't it?
A quick check on the GOV.UK website, advice for travellers, would have informed the family better. It's almost like we think the whole world is just our playground and we carry on as if we are in the UK. Clearly many countries have much stricter laws and customs. If we aren't happy, don't visit, no matter how glossy the ads.

Lentilweaver · 31/12/2024 14:10

They could just have fined him. That would also have been deeply misogynistic but at least he could have gone home. Really feel for his poor parents.

JHound · 31/12/2024 14:11

skymagentatwo · 31/12/2024 13:57

Oh dear @JHound calling people trolls is against MN rules reported. Your last post was deleted for exactly the same and so thats strike 2.

But you appear to be using both the words "woman" and "girl" when it suits you, how odd perhaps that makes are a tad hypoctriical in your judgment and defense.

The girl was 16 which is legally defined as a child, as anyone who has not yet reached their 18th birthday. This is in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and civil legislation in England and Wales.

So an adult male of 18 had sex with a female child with out her parents consent in Dubai, which is against their law and customs.

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So you DO believe female humans are the property of their families.

It is all clear.

He does not need her parents consent to enter into a relationship with her.
Age of consent laws have nothing to do with parents.
Not in the UK nor in Dubai. You seem very unversed on the topic.

notafraidofthebigbadwolf · 31/12/2024 14:11

I expect that the mother will come to regret her actions in time. The daughter will outgrow her parents. She will tell her mother very little about her life going forward. The mother will not enjoy a close relationship with her daughter and her daughter's family in the years to come. A slow and lifelong punishment - and she will deserve it. Marcus will have the sympathy of the western world for as long as he needs it. Good luck Marcus.

zdcgbjm · 31/12/2024 14:11

skymagentatwo · 31/12/2024 14:02

Ah so you dont agree with United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and civil legislation in England and Wales. Good to know you dont make the rules.

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That's very black and white thinking. Do you think a person undergoes some kind of transformation between going to bed as a 17 year old and waking up in the morning as an 18 year old? She was very nearly 18. Close enough that would make no difference to her maturity or understanding of what she was doing. Turning 18 is a very arbitrary date to decide someone is an adult. In the UK she would be considered old enough to consent and that is the lens through which people are looking at it. This is not a case of an older adult taking advantage of a child. The two individuals involved were near enough the same age.

JHound · 31/12/2024 14:12

skymagentatwo · 31/12/2024 14:05

You seem apt a calling people names in every post, you claim her mother is a rasist, thats quite a claim. Do you have any evidence of this?

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Yes. The facts of the case. Calling racist people racist is not calling names.

Also I am not interested in having a conversation with a character from the Three Billy Goats Gruff.

Go away.

JHound · 31/12/2024 14:14

skymagentatwo · 31/12/2024 14:09

Are you claiming that a child (Girl) as decribed under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and civil legislation in England and Wales. Do not belong and under the custody of their appointed and legal guardians in this case the girls parents. She was not 18.

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In England and Wales 17 year old girls do not need parental consent to embark on consensual sexual relationships.

You quoting that does not change that. There is no disrespect in two people choosing to date each other.