Manuel Guerrero Aviña, a British-Mexican man living with HIV, who was arrested in a Grindr “sting operation,” has finally left Qatar.
In February, a 44-year-old was arrested in what his family described as a “honeytrap operation” involving the gay dating app Grindr. He was given a six-month suspended sentence and a £2,100 fine, which he attempted to appeal but was unsuccessful.
Qatar asserts that Mr Guerrero Aviña’s case was solely about drug possession, which his family disputes, claiming the drugs were planted on him during an arrest facilitated through a fake Grindr meet-up with another man in his apartment complex.
During his imprisonment, Mr. Guerrero Aviña was refused access to his HIV medication, which could endanger his health and lead to resistance to his treatment and other HIV medications.
Guerrero Aviña, a gay man, asserts that he was targeted due to his sexual orientation and argues that his arrest, detention, and lack of access to his HIV treatment “violated his human rights”.
Homosexuality is strictly prohibited in Qatar, where individuals can face severe penalties that include hefty fines and lengthy prison sentences.
Amnesty International labelled his treatment while in custody and throughout the trial as “utterly horrific”, emphasising the grave violations of human rights that were evident during the entire experience.
The Manuel Guerrero Committee, established by Mr. Guerrero Aviña’s family to advocate for his release, expressed their relief that he is now free from the “claws of the homophobic state of Qatar”.
They also thanked the people of Mexico, Britain, the wider LGBT community, and the media for their unwavering support, saying:
“Manuel and his family thank you for your tireless support in this emblematic struggle against injustice, against homophobia and in favour of human rights for all people”.
Qatar sadly isn’t an outlier in criminalising sex acts and relationships. The latest IGLA World map shows that many countries in the global south continue to discriminate against LGBTQ+ people
For more information on where is safe to travel as an LGBTQ+ person and/or someone living with HIV please contact your local government or trusted travel information resource.
