Manuel Guerrero Aviña: 'I never thought I'd return home'

A British-Mexican man arrested in Qatar has given his first interview since returning home.

British Broadcasting CorporationWatchHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureTravelEarthVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS ElectionUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessWomen at the HelmFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureTravelEarthVideoLiveAudioWeatherNewslettersI never thought I'd get home, gay man arrested in Qatar saysStuart Antrobus/BBCManuel Guerrero Aviña has given his first interview since his arrestA British-Mexican man convicted of drug offences in Qatar after being detained there for six months has told BBC News he “never thought I’d return home".

In his first interview since leaving the country, Manuel Guerrero Aviña, who says he was targeted because he is gay, warned LGBT people to “be careful when visiting Qatar”, saying: “What happened to me could happen to anyone.”

He was arrested in February after arranging to meet a man - who he later found out was an undercover police officer - using gay dating app Grindr.

Human-rights groups have raised concerns over Manuel's detention and called his trial “grossly unfair” - but Qatari officials insist he was arrested because of drug offences.

The 45-year-old former British Airways worker now wants to focus on returning to work and spending time with his family.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3vxddzr2z5o

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