David Cameron has been accused of "not doing enough" to save a British-Mexican man trapped in Qatar after an alleged Grindr sting.
Dual citizen Manuel Guerrero Aviña, 44, was reportedly arrested in a hotel lobby back in February after replying to fake messages on the same-sex dating app. The Mirror was told by a human rights organisation that Mr Aviña now awaits trial on April 22 and has been placed under a travel ban - but he is running out of HIV medication.
The Foreign Secretary has not publicly condemned Qatari officials over the case and MPs have hit out at the "silence from government". Labour MP Kate Osborne told The Mirror that Lord Cameron and the Foreign Office (FCDO) have not done enough to resolve Mr Aviña's case.
She said: "It is horrendous that Manuel has been targeted as a result of his LGBTQ+ status and denied access to his retroviral medication. I have been gravely concerned about the potential health impacts on him from disruption to his treatment. I met with Manuel's family in Parliament and have written to FCDO but have not received a response. FCDO must act urgently to resolve his case to ensure that he can get home to the UK safely and immediately access appropriate health care."
Lord Cameron has come under fire over an incident in Qatar with a British-Mexican citizen (Anadolu via Getty Images)She added: "FCDO must make urgent representations to the Qatari Government to seek Manuel's immediate repatriation without charge or penalty." Same-sex sexual activity is prohibited in Qatar under the Penal Code 2004 - carrying a maximum penalty of seven years' imprisonment.
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The country also follows an interpretation of Sharia Law, which criminalises sodomy between men with the death penalty. There is limited evidence of this law being enforced in recent years, but reports of 'discrimination and violence' against LGBTQ+ people is common.
Green Party MP Caroline Lucas has also called on the FCDO to "ramp up" their efforts to bring Mr Aviña home safely. She said: "As a gay man, British citizen Manuel Guerrero Aviña was entrapped and arrested by Qatari authorities, denied legal representation and medicine, and subjected to psychological torture and degrading treatment.
"While it is a relief that Manuel has now been provisionally released from prison, it is still of serious concern that the investigation is ongoing, he still can't access vital medication and he is banned from leaving or travelling anywhere. As long as Manuel is trapped in Qatar, his life will clearly be at serious risk."
Qatari officials insist the arrest was made due to possession of amphetamine and methamphetamine and not because of the man's sexuality - arguing these drugs were also found in the man's system following tests. But Mr Aviña's brother, Enrique, claims the illegal substances were planted on him as part of a sting operation.
Sources close to the case say the 44-year-old was then subject to in-the-night interrogations about his sexuality and sexual partners while police reportedly played cat and mouse with his HIV medication - but a Qatari official denies the allegations and states Mr Aviña has been "treated with respect and dignity" throughout his detention. The former British Airways worker was released from prison on March 18, after being reportedly forced to sign Arabic documents without a translator and denied legal representation for the first 38 days of his detention.
Manuel's brother added: "We have managed to secure Manuel a limited supply of his desperately needed anti-retroviral medication from outside of the country, but only a few more weeks worth of the medicine. Manuel is still being deprived of consistent access to the medication he needs, and while he continues to be detained in Qatar, the authorities must acknowledge his HIV+ status and guarantee his supply of medication.
"Ultimately, Manuel must be allowed to leave Qatar and be seen by a specialist doctor who can run tests to assess his current health condition, as the restriction of his medication by the Qatari authorities during his detention may have subjected him to long term health impacts."
The antiretroviral medicine Mr Aviña needs more of is not available in Qatar. It is thought the ex-flight attendant used to pick up his prescriptions when travelling outside of the country. Kate Nambiar, medical director at Terrence Higgins Trust warns it is vital for people to take their HIV medication every day, adding: "Missed or late doses could mean there are reduced levels of the drugs in your blood, which allows the HIV cells to mutate and carry on reproducing despite treatment.
"Being denied life-saving treatment is the most desperate and serious position for anyone to be in. The rights of people living with HIV should be protected at all costs."
In a statement a spokesman for the Foreign Office said: "We are supporting a British man in Qatar and are in contact with his family." But the FDCO refused to comment when asked what efforts were being made to help Guerrero be repatriated - or whether Lord Cameron had done enough to solve the issue.
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A Qatari official said: "Mr Aviña was arrested for possession of illegal substances on his person and in his apartment. He acknowledged the possession of the seized substances and was subsequently booked, registered, and presented to the court. A drug test later came back positive, confirming the presence of illegal substances, specifically amphetamine and methamphetamine, in his system at the time of his arrest."
They added: "Mr Aviña's arrest and the subsequent investigation are related solely to the possession of illegal substances with the intent to supply. There are stringent laws in place for the possession and distribution of illegal drugs in Qatar, and the authorities are continuously working to combat the issue. Qatar is no different from other countries in this regard.
"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. As this case is still ongoing, additional details will be disclosed in accordance with the judicial process."
Qatari officials did not respond when asked if police used the dating app Grindr to meet Mr Aviña.
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