Gay man to be deported from Qatar after being convicted

After more than six months of intermittent detention in Qatar, Manuel Guerrero Aviña, a British-Mexican citizen, is facing deportation. Aviña was sentenced to six months in prison, plus a fine of 10,000 Qatari riyals (about $2,750), for the “crime” of being gay, an illegal act in the country.

Aviña, 44, was arrested on February 4 after local police used a fake profile on a dating app to lure him. According to his family, during nearly two months of detention, he was subjected to nighttime interrogations and pressure to identify other LGBTQIA+ people with whom he had allegedly had relationships. After discovering his HIV status, authorities placed him in solitary confinement and denied him medication.

In his statement, Aviña expressed disappointment with the court ruling that upheld his sentence. “Despite clear evidence of due process violations and human rights abuses, the Qatari authorities have failed to provide me with justice. I continue to maintain my innocence and maintain that I was wrongly accused and convicted,” he said.

The detention process was marked by several irregularities, including the lack of access to a lawyer or translator for 38 days. Even after a defense attorney was appointed, Aviña’s lawyer was unable to access the case files for more than two months.

With the fine paid and deportation proceedings underway, Aviña is expected to be able to leave Qatar in the coming weeks. He has asked the UK and Mexican consulates to help expedite his departure to avoid lengthy delays.

Aviña also called on the international community to continue the fight for LGBT+ rights in countries where these violations occur, highlighting the gravity of their situation and the injustices they face.

By Ezatamentchy