Qatar Grinde’r Fished,Arrested and Refused Medication to Gay Man

STAY AWAY From QUATAR

Guerrero Aviña, his right, and His brother Enrique

By Josh Parry, LGBT & Identity Producer, BBC News • Caroline Hawley, 

Diplomatic Correspondent, BBC News

 

Aya Majzoub, Amnesty International's Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and Africa, said in a statement that authorities in the country must overturn Mr. Guerrero Aviña’s "outrageous conviction and lift his travel ban".

"There are serious fears that [he] was targeted for his sexual orientation and was coerced into providing the authorities with information that they could use to pursue a wider crackdown on LGBTI individuals in Qatar”.

HIV charities had also launched interventions in the case after claims Mr Guerrero Aviña, who is HIV positive, had not had regular access to his medication, which keeps the virus under control.

Mr Guerrero Aviña's family has told the BBC that his usual treatment, prescribed by British doctors, ran out in mid-April.

The UK's National Aids Trust told the BBC he urgently needs to return to the UK for the medication as it is not available in Qatar, and he may have built up resistance to it, which would make it less effective.

Deborah Gold, CEO of National Aids Trust, said: "We are hugely concerned that he will not be able to access the ongoing medical care and treatment that is his human right while in Qatar."

Mr Guerrero Aviña's brother Enrique told the BBC: "My brother is facing punishment in Qatar because he is gay."

"We will keep fighting until justice is serviced and until Manuel is safely back home."

A Qatari official said: "Contrary to certain media reports, no other factors were taken into account when making the arrest, and Mr Aviña has been treated with respect and dignity throughout his detention."