I never thought I’d get home, gay man arrested in Qatar says
A British-Mexican man convicted of drug offences in Qatar after being detained there for six months has told BBC News he “never thought I’d return home”.
In his first interview since leaving the country, Manuel Guerrero Aviña, who says he was targeted because he is gay, warned LGBT people to “be careful when visiting Qatar”, saying: “What happened to me could happen to anyone.”
He was arrested in February after arranging to meet a man – who he later found out was an undercover police officer – using gay dating app Grindr.
Human-rights groups have raised concerns over Manuel’s detention and called his trial “grossly unfair” – but Qatari officials insist he was arrested because of drug offences.
The 45-year-old former British Airways worker now wants to focus on returning to work and spending time with his family.
Manuel made headlines around the world following his arrest and his family started a campaign for him to be freed.
At a court hearing in June, he was found guilty of possessing an illegal substance, given a six-month suspended prison sentence, fined £2,100 and was the subject of a deportation order.
San Miguel Times
Newsroom
