Gay Syrian refugee beheaded in Istanbul in suspected homophobic attack

Victim previously kidnapped and raped

Muhammed Wisam Sankari arrived in Istanbul a year ago (kaosgl.org)

A gay Syrian refugee has been mutilated and beheaded in Istanbul.

Muhammed Wisam Sankari was found dead in the Yenikapi district of Istanbul and his body was so badly mutilated that friends were only available to identify him by pieces of clothing.

Mr Sankari arrived in Istanbul a year ago from war-torn Syria and friends said he was trying to flee Turkey after previously being kidnapped and raped by a group of men, according to Kaosgl.org.

One of his housemates said they had complained about the kidnapping to the police but nothing was done about it.

Another close friend, Diya, said the entire LGBT community live in fear in Turkey.

“No one cares about us. They just talk. I get threats over the phone. I speak calmly so something does not happen. It does not matter if you are Syrian or Turkish, if you are gay you are everyone’s target,” he told Kaosgl.org.

While Turkey is often thought of as being more accepting than other Muslim countries, the police turned hoses and tear gas on LGBT demonstrators in June and Istanbul's Pride event was cancelled.

No arrests have been made as of yet.