Qatar is as soon as once more within the information, after a Qatar Airways supervisor has been jailed within the small Gulf state for the previous few weeks. This reportedly got here after some form of a police sting operation, so let’s go over the small print of what we all know.
Homosexual Qatar Airways supervisor reportedly jailed in Doha for weeks
44-year-old twin British and Mexican nationwide Manuel Guerrero Aviña has reportedly been jailed in Doha since February 4, 2024, and this has been confirmed by the related consulates. His household is simply now going public about this, in hopes that worldwide consideration to this case will result in a optimistic final result.
Lower than a 12 months in the past, Manuel moved to Doha, the place he took on a job as Head of Product Improvement and Service Design at Qatar Airways. Previous to that, he labored at a number of different airways, together with British Airways and Lufthansa.
So, how did this supervisor immediately get arrested? In keeping with Manuel’s brother, he was baited by police in Doha by homosexual relationship and hookup app Grindr:
“Qatar police used a false Grindr profile to contact Manuel and invite him to take part in a gathering with different individuals from the LGBT neighborhood within the metropolis of Doha. Manuel was supposed to satisfy an individual he thought he had organized an appointment with on the night time of February 4 however as a substitute encountered cops who have been ready to arrest him arbitrarily.”
In keeping with his brother, police planted medicine on Manuel, so he’s being held on drug possession prices:
“In the course of the arrest police planted 1 / 4 of a gram of methamphetamines on him to incriminate him for the crime of drug possession and as of immediately he stays unjustly imprisoned.”
He additionally claims that whereas in custody, police have tried to get him to disclose contact particulars of different members of the LGBT neighborhood:
“From the second of his arrest, he has been the sufferer of merciless, inhumane and degrading therapy as effectively of act of psychological torture. Authorities tried to drive him to determine in his phone contacts different members of the LGBT neighborhood in addition to forcing him to witness the struggling of different detainees whereas they have been whipped. He has been threatened, remoted, disadvantaged of meals and ample water due to his sexual orientation and well being situation.”
Maybe worst of all, Manuel is HIV optimistic, however has been denied entry to the treatment that he must handle that:
“He has been denied the correct to a lawyer and has been pressured to signal paperwork in Arabic with out a translator to help him. Even worse, he has been been prevented entry to antiretroviral medicines he wants to have the ability to stay with HIV, which constitutes an act of torture and places his life in danger.”
That is an terrible scenario…
Make no mistake about it, it is a horrible scenario, particularly as Manuel is reportedly unable to get the treatment that he must handle his HIV. That’s terrible, and inhumane.
This can be a good reminder that whereas visiting and even working in Gulf states like Qatar and the United Arab Emirates works effectively for a overwhelming majority of individuals, there are exceptions. When issues go incorrect, you’ve gotten only a few rights, and that’s actually robust — that is the prime instance of that. Issues are nice, till they aren’t.
Whereas Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are usually thought of to be among the many extra progressive international locations within the area, it certain looks as if Qatar has been within the information a bit these days for issues alongside these traces, whereas that’s not a narrative you usually hear out of the United Arab Emirates.
Now, I do must acknowledge that we’re solely getting one facet of the story right here. I’m not in any approach attempting to recommend that this jailing is justified, however I feel it’s vital to acknowledge that.
What appears particularly heinous right here is that he was reportedly baited through Grindr, after which the police planted medicine on him, in order that they might arrest him based mostly on that. If that’s how this performed out, that’s simply subsequent degree merciless.
Now, I can’t assist however be curious if there is likely to be extra to this story — since he was baited on Grindr, is it doable that he truly introduced the medicine with him? Medication are after all unlawful and closely punishable in Gulf international locations, however that’s to not say that some individuals don’t do them or get entry to them.
One other factor I’m interested in right here is relating to Manuel’s HIV standing. I used to be beneath the impression that in an effort to get a piece allow in Qatar you needed to be HIV unfavourable (which is ridiculous, however that’s an entire completely different story). So am I incorrect on that, or I’m curious what occurred there, and the way it pertains to the shortage of him having the ability to get treatment?
Qatar is attempting to raise its international profile, and improve its variety of guests. It sees what’s taking place in Dubai, and desires in on the motion. Qatar, if that’s the purpose, these sorts of tales don’t assist with that. You need to keep out of the information for issues like this, as a result of it actually doesn’t assist with making individuals extra focused on visiting. But all too usually, Qatar can’t assist itself, like when Australian passengers have been strip searched again in 2020…
Backside line
A Qatar Airways supervisor has reportedly been jailed in Doha for the previous a number of weeks. He’s HIV optimistic, and has been denied entry to the medication that he wants to have the ability to keep wholesome. In keeping with the person’s brother, he was baited by police by Grindr, and when he met up with them, they planted medicine on him, and arrested him based mostly on that.
That is an terrible scenario, so hopefully the person is launched quickly…
