RELIGION OF PEACE UPDATE: Gay Syrian man beheaded and mutilated in Turkey.

Another of Mr Sankari’s friends, Diya, said the United Nations was also failing to protect the gay community in Turkey.

“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.

In June, Turkish police fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse gay activists who tried to hold an LGBT rally in Istanbul, despite a ban on the Gay Pride parade.

Unlike in many Arab countries, homosexuality is not illegal in Turkey but analysts say homophobia remains widespread.

It may not be illegal, but in Erdogan’s Turkey the law doesn’t mean much.