Manuel Guerrero Aviña Alleges Qatar Authorities Used Fake Grindr Profile to Arrest Him
Manuel Guerrero Aviña, a dual Mexican-British citizen, was arrested in Qatar in a controversial incident, leading to serious concerns about human rights violations.
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| Relatives and friends of Manuel Guerrero Aviña outside the British embassy in Mexico City, March 4, 2024 - ALFREDO ESTRELLA/AFP/GETTY |
Aviña was arrested in February after arranging to meet someone named “Gio” on the Grindr dating app. Instead of meeting “Gio,” Aviña was confronted by Qatari police, who allegedly created a fake profile to entrap him. His brother Enrique said, “The Qatari police created a fake profile on Grindr to target [him],” labeling the act as homophobic since homosexuality is illegal in Qatar.
Qatari authorities claim Aviña was arrested for possessing drugs, denying that his sexuality influenced their actions. They stated, “The arrest in question and subsequent investigation are related solely to the possession and distribution of illegal substances, with no involvement of other factors.”
Aviña's family disagrees with this, arguing he was forced into signing documents in Arabic and was pressured to name other gay men. Amnesty International described Aviña’s detention conditions as “nothing short of horrific”. It raised concerns about his denial of access to legal representation for more than a month and vital HIV medication.
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| Manuel Guerrero Aviña is in urgent need of HIV medication |
Aviña's brother Enrique said that Aviña's health declined in detention due to the lack of access to antiretroviral (ARV) medication, essential for treating his HIV. Enrique handed the medication to Qatari authorities, but it never reached Aviña. The UN’s Working Group on Arbitrary Detention expressed “deep concerns” about the discriminatory motives behind Aviña’s arrest and detention, including the denial of his medication. Enrique fears his brother’s health will collapse without access to his medication in prison.
Amnesty International raised concerns about the use of digital entrapment through dating apps to target LGBTQ+ individuals in the Middle East. Human Rights Watch also highlighted that such criminalization emboldens digital targeting and prosecutions of LGBTQ+ people.
In June, Aviña received a suspended six-month jail sentence, a fine of about $2,700, and a deportation order. According to the latest updates Aviña has lodged an appeal describing the verdict as unfair and he has urged the governments of the UK and Mexico to address these issues with Qatari authorities.
Read here: Pride Attack in Norway: Iranian-born Man Sentenced 30 Years in Prison
Aviña condemned the “unfair verdict” and the “violations of due process during my detention and trial,” including torture and mistreatment to pressure him into revealing names of other gay partners and signing documents in Arabic without a translator. Qatari officials stated that Aviña’s arrest was for drug possession and accused him and his family of making false allegations to garner public sympathy.
Aviña’s brother reported that authorities threatened him with whipping and moved him into solitary confinement upon discovering his HIV status, withholding his medication to pressure him for information about other gay men. Amnesty International and other human rights organizations raised alarms about Aviña’s treatment, suggesting that his sexual orientation influenced the authorities' actions more than the alleged drug charges.
Read here: Pride Attack in Norway: Iranian-born Man Sentenced 30 Years in Prison
Manuel Guerrero Aviña’s case raises serious concerns about human rights and the treatment of LGBTQ+ individuals in Qatar. His family and many human rights organizations argue that Aviña’s arrest and subsequent treatment were driven by his sexual orientation rather than the alleged drug charges, highlighting the harsh realities faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in countries where homosexuality is criminalized.