A British teenager sentenced to one year in a\u00a0Dubai\u00a0jail for having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl has been released after receiving a royal pardon, a campaign group has said.<\/p>\n
Marcus Fakana, 18, of Tottenham, north London, received the pardon from Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum and is safely in the UK, Detained In Dubai said.<\/p>\n
The group’s chief executive Radha Stirling said Mr Fakana “is currently recovering”.<\/p>\n
She added: “His case has attracted significant public attention due to concerns about the criminalisation of tourists and disproportionate sentencing.<\/p>\n
“We believe this case highlights the urgent need for expedited legal processes for foreign nationals and safeguards against unnecessary custodial sentences.”<\/p>\n
Mr Fakana was with his parents in the\u00a0United Arab Emirates<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0when a “holiday romance blossomed” with another Londoner, who has since turned 18, the campaign group previously said.<\/p>\n He was arrested at his hotel last year after the girl’s mother reported the relationship to Dubai police after she allegedly found their pictures and chats.<\/p>\n In Dubai, the age of consent is 18.<\/p>\n Source: \u00a0![\"Sky](\"http:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/sky-news-logo-1.png\"){kind=logo}
<\/a> news.sky.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"