“I by no means thought I might go house”

A British-Mexican man convicted of drug offenses after being detained in Qatar for six months has instructed BBC Information he “by no means thought I might come house”.

Manuel Guerrero Avina says he was focused as a result of he’s homosexual and in his first interview since leaving Qatar, he warned LGBT folks to “watch out when visiting Qatar” , and mentioned: “What occurred to me might occur to anybody.”

In February, he was arrested after utilizing the homosexual relationship app Grindr to rearrange a gathering with a person who he later found was an undercover police officer.

Rights teams have raised considerations about Manuel’s detention and known as his trial “grossly unfair,” however Qatari officers insist he was arrested on drug offences.

The 45-year-old former British Airways worker now needs to give attention to returning to work and spending time along with his household.

Manuel’s arrest made headlines all over the world and his household launched a marketing campaign for his launch.

in a Trial begins in Junehe was discovered responsible of possession of unlawful substances and given a six-month suspended sentence, fined £2,100 and deported.

Returning to the UK, he has given his first-hand account for the primary time of the 44 days he spent in a Qatar jail and subsequent detention within the nation.

“There have been many occasions after I was scared,” Manuel mentioned.

“I believed I might by no means be capable to go away.

“I believed I’d get misplaced within the system.

“I am actually scared.

“I did not assume I might get house safely.”

Manuel has maintained that police planted medication in his condo and mentioned the actual cause for his arrest was his sexual orientation.

“I completely deny the drug prices,” he instructed BBC Information.

“All through the interrogation, all of the questions they requested me had been about my sexual companions, my sexual orientation, whether or not I had intercourse, who I had intercourse with, and so forth.

“If this was only a drug case, they might be asking me about medication.”

Qatar criminalizes homosexuality, rights teams have warned Raised considerations a number of occasions Concerning the therapy of LGBT folks within the nation.

However Manuel mentioned he has lived there for seven years with out stepping into hassle with police.

“There appears to be an unwritten rule that no matter occurs in non-public is OK,” he mentioned.

“I believed I used to be being obedient by means of warning, however when [in public] And observe the principles – however I simply wish to dwell slightly little bit of life at house.

“I believe it is positive so long as it isn’t made public.”

BBC Information beforehand reportedOn February 4, Manuel had been messaging a person on the relationship apps Grindr and Tinder and invited him to his condo.

Manuel mentioned that after assembly the person within the foyer of his constructing, he was confronted by police, who handcuffed him after which searched his condo, finally arresting him.

Whereas in jail, Manuel mentioned he witnessed folks being whipped and moved into cramped situations for refusing to unlock their telephones or reveal the names and cellphone numbers of different LGBT folks residing in Qatar.

“They tried to power me to admit and unlock my cellphone – however I could not put others within the homosexual group in danger,” he mentioned.

“Why ought to I put others by means of this ache?”

In a confession written in Arabic and seen by BBC Information, Manuel mentioned he was compelled to be fingerprinted with out the presence of a lawyer or the assistance of a translator.

Now we have not been capable of independently confirm all of his claims.

Most of the allegations about his therapy after his arrest relate to the time he spent behind closed doorways with few witnesses.

However the Guerrero Aviña household shared an in depth timeline of occasions, and former studies on the therapy of LGBT folks and police conduct in Qatar counsel others have had related experiences.

A Qatari official instructed BBC Information that Manuel was “handled with dignity and respect all through his detention” and was sentenced “following an investigation and trial.”

He was arrested “for possession of an unlawful substance” and “no different elements had been taken into consideration”.

“Mr. Avina and his household have made quite a few false accusations in an try to realize public sympathy and help for his case,” the official mentioned.

“An individual’s beliefs, background or orientation doesn’t protect them from the implications of the legislation, particularly when dealing with critical prices associated to drug possession.

“Qadda has strict legal guidelines on the possession of unlawful medication and the authorities are continuously working to deal with the problem.

“As Mr Avina himself admits, he has lived in Qatar for seven years with none issues.”

However James Lynch, a former British diplomat in Qatar and co-director of rights group FairSquare, mentioned the trial was “grossly unfair” and in contrast it to different instances he has labored on.

“Manuel was clearly focused as a result of he’s LGBT, residing in Qatar and residing his life,” Lynch mentioned.

“Prior to now three years now we have handled a number of instances the place folks had been arrested and tried with out legal professionals.

“Qaddaans want to determine how justice is served within the nation.”

Manuel, who has human immunodeficiency virus, has additionally obtained help from AIDS charities UK after claiming he was not receiving common medicine to manage the virus.

“I needed to beg from jail officers daily to attempt to get my medicine,” he mentioned.

“For me, not gaining access to medicine was a really tough time since you’re anxious concerning the impression it should have in your well being, but in addition your psychological well being.”

Now again within the UK, Manuel mentioned he’s receiving medical care and slowly turning into extra capable of be his true self.

“It isn’t such as you see symbols like rainbows or flags in every single place,” he mentioned.

“Extra importantly, it’s such an incredible feeling to have the ability to get again little issues that you simply didn’t notice you had misplaced till you bought them again.

“Like seeing folks holding fingers on the road, with the ability to be affectionate with my pals with out excited about how we work together, with the ability to try this with out closing the door.”