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British man leaves Qatar after Grindr sting arrest

Manuel Guerrero Aviña is a dual-citizen of Britain and Mexico.

Means Happy

Aug 15, 2024 — 3 min read

Manuel Guerrero Aviña, who has dual Mexican-British citizenship, has now been deported from Qatar after being detained there following his arrest.

After being arrested in February of this year, a Qatari court gave Guerrero Aviña, aged 44, a six-month suspended sentence, fined him £2,100, and ordered his deportation.

The conviction was for possession of an illegal substance.

"Although I welcome the fact that I can leave the country, I still condemn the unfair trial I have been subjected to and the torture and ill treatment I endured during my preliminary detention..." said Guerrero Aviña - speaking to the media at the time of his sentencing.

Guerrero Aviña was arrested after using Grindr to arrange a hook-up with another man. When Aviña arrived in the man's apartment lobby, as arranged, he was confronted by police officers. It appears that the authorities used a "honeytrap" operation to identify Guerrero Aviña - possibly using a fake profile to draw him to the location where he was arrested.

Digital entrapment using dating apps is believed to be a common tactic used by authorities in countries where homosexuality is illegal.

Guerrero Aviña's family have claimed he was targeted because he was gay and that Qatari police planted drugs in his apartment. The police alleged that he was in possession of methamphetamine.

Homosexuality is illegal in Qatar.

Guerrero Aviña's family claim that he was pressured by Qatari authorities to provide them with names other gay men.

A key concern during Guerrero Aviña's detention in Qatar has been his health - it was reported that he was not able to access any antiretroviral medication to manage his HIV.

Prior to his arrest, Guerrero Aviña was working as a flight attendant for Qatar Airways - he relied on his overseas travel in order to regularly obtain the medication required to keep his HIV at an undetectable level.