Gay Syrian refugee found beheaded in Turkey
By Will Stroude
Housemates of Muhammad Wisam Sankari have identified his body after he was found beheaded, according to reports from the BBC.
His friends, who are also gay, told Turkish LGBT rights group kasosgl.org that they had been threatened with violence by male gangs.
Muhammad came to Turkey as a refugee a year ago, and his body was found on July 25.
Diya, a friend of Muhammad, said that the UN aren’t doing enough to protect LGBT people in Turkey, where earlier this year a Pride march in Istanbul was met with violence from the police – according to reports.
One of his housemates, Rayan, said Muhammad had been kidnapped earlier this year and was beaten and raped, but that the police had failed to act.
“I get threats over the phone… It does not matter if you are Syrian or Turkish, if you are gay you are everyone’s target. They want sex from you and when you don’t they just tag along… Who is next?” Diya said.
According to the BBC’s Cagil Kasapolgu, there’s been a rise in homophobic language and rhetoric in Turkey’s right wing media, with anti-LGBT assaults often being attributed to the ultra-nationalist youth group AlPeren Hearths, and conservative religious groups.
More stories:
Orlando Bloom full-frontal photos leak, send internet into meltdown
Meet the out and proud gay men representing their country at the Rio Olympic Games