The family of a gay British-Mexican man held in Qatar for alleged drug offences has given further details of what they say was a “honeytrap” operation using the gay dating app, Grindr.

Manuel Guerrero Aviña was approached online by a man called “Gio” and they arranged to meet - but he was instead met by police and arrested on false drug charges, Manuel’s brother Enrique told the BBC.

Manuel, who has HIV, has now completely run out of his usual medication, his family says. They want the UK government to bring him back home for treatment.

Amnesty International has described Manuel’s experience in detention as “nothing short of horrific” and says that his trial was “marred by a range of due process violations.” Its concerns are echoed by other human rights organisations the BBC has spoken to.

  • Flying Squid@lemmy.worldM
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    7 months ago

    Homosexuality is illegal in Qatar but Manuel, an airline worker, had lived a “normal life” for the past seven years and had never been in trouble with the authorities, his family says.

    He wasn’t a traveler, he lived there. Expecting every gay man who lives in Qatar to remain celibate is ludicrous.

    • catloaf@lemm.ee
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      7 months ago

      That’s even worse! Why would you live in a country whose government actively wants you dead?!

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.worldM
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        7 months ago

        Because that’s where his job sent him? I don’t know. I’m sure he had a good reason.