Ex-BA manager in Qatari jail for 'being gay' amid family's torture fears
A British man is languishing in prison in Qatar after being arrested in an alleged police sting because of his sexuality.
Former British Airways manager Manuel Guerrero’s family claims he is being tortured in jail after being held following replying to a fake message on the gay dating app Grindr. The 44-year-old airline worker has been behind bars since February 4 but his family have only just gone public, in a bid to secure his release.
The Foreign Office confirmed today it was providing consular assistance and helping Manuel’s family along with Mexican diplomats, as Manuel has dual British and Mexican nationality. UK diplomats are dealing with officials in Qatar as Manuel registered as a British national there when he moved to the Middle East for work.
Manuel’s brother Enrique claimed last night his sibling was in prison for "being gay" and claimed he was being tortured by being denied antiretroviral medicines for his HIV and had been forced to witness prisoner whippings. He said: "Qatar police used a false Grindr profile to contact Manuel and invite him to participate in a meeting with other people from the LGBT community in the city of Doha. Manuel was supposed to meet a person he thought he had arranged an appointment with on the night of February 4 but instead encountered police officers who were waiting to arrest him arbitrarily."
Enrique, through a social media campaign QatarFreeManuel which he is fronting, added: "During the arrest police planted a quarter of a gram of methamphetamines on him to incriminate him for the crime of drug possession and as of today he remains unjustly imprisoned."
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In hard-hitting criticism of Manuel’s treatment, campaigners fighting to get him freed from alleged solitary confinement said: "From the moment of his arrest, he has been the victim of cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment as well of act of psychological torture. Authorities tried to force him to identify in his telephone contacts other members of the LGBT community as well as forcing him to witness the suffering of other detainees while they were whipped. He has been threatened, isolated, deprived of food and sufficient water because of his sexual orientation and health condition.
"He has been denied the right to a lawyer and has been forced to sign documents in Arabic without a translator to assist him. Even worse, he has been been prevented access to antiretroviral medicines he needs to be able to live with HIV, which constitutes an act of torture and puts his life at risk."
Manuel moved to Qatar for work and announced on social media nine months ago he was starting a new job as Acting Head of Product Development and Service Design at Qatar Airways. He describes himself professionally as a British and Mexican passport holder with a strong understanding of the airline business and 18 years of experience in different airlines and a degree in business management. He spent nearly 10 years working for British Airways, joining the airline as an air steward and progressing to managerial roles. He has also worked for Lufthansa, American Airlines and Star Alliance.
Mexican diplomats say they are aware of Manuel’s plight and are assisting UK authorities and his family but say British diplomats are taking the lead. The Mexican Embassy in Qatar insisted, referring to Manuel by his full name: "With regards to the case of Manuel Guerrero Avina who has Mexican and British nationality and is currently under arrest in Doha, the Mexican Embassy in Qatar confirms it has been following developments since it was informed about the detention.
"It has been in constant contact with his relatives and it has confirmed Manuel has legal representation. Given the arrested man has registered his residence in Qatar as a British national, the consulate of that country in Doha has been the entity recognised by the authorities in Qatar to carry out the relevant consular activities on his behalf. The Mexican Embassy will continue to follow the case along with the British Embassy in Doha, and will remain in contact with Manuel’s family."
He says of himself on Linkedin: "I live and work by my personal motto: 'Passion for Service' - British and Mexican passport holder with a strong understanding of the airline business supported with 18 years of experience in a wide variety of roles in different airlines and a degree in business management. I am a strong team player, able to cooperate and work well with peers and senior managers alike to achieve common objectives. Self-motivated and enthusiastic individual with strong communication skills."
A spokesman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office confirmed this afternoon: "We are providing consular assistance to a British man who is detained in Qatar and are supporting his family."
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