Gay Man Freed From Qatar After Months Of Imprisonment And Abuse
Manuel Guerrero Aviña, a British-Mexican citizen, faced a harrowing experience in Qatar. In February 2024, Aviña, a former Qatar Airways employee, was arrested in Doha. The reason? A “honey trap” set by the police using fake Grindr messages. Homosexuality is illegal in Qatar, and Aviña found himself caught in a web of official deceit.
Aviña was lured to a location under the guise of meeting other gay men. Instead, he was met by police officers who claimed to find methamphetamine in his apartment. Aviña insists the drugs were planted. Arrested on February 4, he faced a suspended six-month prison term and a fine in June at Al Sadd Criminal Court.
During his imprisonment, Aviña was denied crucial antiretroviral medication for his HIV condition. He was forced to sign documents in Arabic without understanding them, and he had to identify his sexual partners from his phone contacts. Aviña described this as “psychological torture.”
Aviña’s family and human rights advocates worldwide rallied for his release. Their relentless efforts bore fruit this week when Aviña was finally allowed to return to the UK. The X account @QatarFreeManuel shared the joyous news: “At this moment Manuel flies free and dignified towards London! We are grateful for the unwavering support in this fight for justice.”
In a statement, Aviña expressed gratitude for the support but condemned the unjust trial and mistreatment he endured. He urged the UK and Mexican governments to address these human rights violations with Qatar. “The struggle goes on,” Aviña’s supporters declared, emphasising the need for continued solidarity and courage to combat injustice.
