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.

    • @raspberriesareyummy
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      251 month ago

      Correct for adults, but this was the kid travelling with his parents. It’s likely that the decision was the parents’ - also, most kids are not very well-versed in politics.

    • Flying Squid
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      1 month ago

      I’m pretty sure his parents were the ones making the trip and he was forced to come along whether he wanted to or not what with him living under his parents’ roof.

    • Victor
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      01 month ago

      You don’t have to be rich to travel there. My brothers and their mother traveled there, not rich by any means. I’m probably more well off, but I haven’t been there. 🤷‍♂️

      But maybe that wasn’t your point? Sorry if I assumed incorrectly!

      • @Jumi
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        291 month ago

        They meant traveling to a pseudo-religious dictatorship

        • @[email protected]
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          -51 month ago

          Yes, definitely! People should be allowed to break the law of the land if they disagree with it!

          /s

        • Victor
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          -121 month ago

          I mean… Okay. But… A place can be interesting to visit despite its government. 🤷‍♂️

          • @Jumi
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            31 month ago

            That’s not what this is about. Can you understand what you read?

              • Victor
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                21 month ago

                Agree, it was a bit snappy.

            • Victor
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              127 days ago

              I guess you just wanted to be snappy and leave the conversation? Cool…

            • Victor
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              1 month ago

              I… can, yes. Why does it seem like I can’t? Why don’t you fill me in? 🙏

              No need to be so hostile. 👍

      • @[email protected]
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        111 month ago

        I think you’re right, but also it says something about the personality too. I know great, respectable people in their own way who have gone there, but in general I agree with the vibe that it’s for “rich people who don’t care about inequality”

        • @Tangent5280
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          21 month ago

          This is only applicable to people who have a wide variety of choices to pick from - if you ca only choose Dubai because your parents worked there as expats then you’re probably in the clear.

        • Victor
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          -11 month ago

          Knowing my family, Hanlon’s razor definitely applies here. People do not always know what’s going on politically or otherwise in a tourist place they visit. My family are not “great respectable people” (they’re good people though), so I’m gonna go with ignorance, for sure. 😅

          • Victor
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            127 days ago

            Not sure why this is down voted lol. I’m just sharing an experience or life situation, and getting down voted. So strange. I feel like I’m back on Reddit. People don’t change from platform to platform, I guess.

      • @Snapz
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        1 month ago

        This doesn’t actually say much about anyone’s actual wealth status in your story, you’re just saying you have more then them I guess? No banana for scale offered.

        “They only have 2 yachts and only one can land a full size helicopter - so yeah… you don’t have to be rich to go to Dubai”