December 22nd 2024.
Francois Zankih has experienced unimaginable horrors during his time living in Syria. As a gay man, he was subjected to torture and death threats by the group that toppled Bashar al-Assad. Despite this, Francois and many other LGBTQ+ Syrians are celebrating the regime change in Syria, even though they are fearful of what the future may bring.
For Francois, the fear of persecution by the Assad family is greater than any other risk. He describes Assad as the biggest source of violence against the LGBTQ+ community in Syria. Francois was forced to flee his home country in 2020 after being kidnapped twice by Hayʼat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a terrorist group, and receiving a death notice from them. But despite this, Francois has not given up on his fight for LGBTQ+ rights in Syria.
Francois has noticed a change in HTS's behavior towards minorities, including the LGBTQ+ community. He believes that they want to be more open and build a relationship with the international community. However, anti-LGBT laws and extreme homophobia continue to plague Syrian society, causing gay and transgender Syrians to live in a state of crisis and fear.
Assad's downfall in December 2020 was a monumental moment for Syria after more than 50 years of his family's rule. Opposition forces, led by HTS, reached Damascus and Assad fled to Russia. Francois was just a teenager when he was kidnapped by the precursor to HTS, the al-Qaeda affiliated Jabhat al-Nusra, in 2016. He was subjected to stoning and sexual torture, but he has not let that deter him from fighting for his rights and the rights of others.
HTS was established in 2011 as Jabhat al-Nusra and was a direct affiliate of al-Qaeda. However, in 2016, the group cut ties with al-Qaeda and formed HTS in an effort to be seen as a credible governing entity in Syria. Although the UK government still considers HTS a terrorist organization, experts say that the group has shifted their focus away from global jihad and has even provided some protection to minority groups in Idlib province.
Despite these efforts, HTS has been accused of human rights abuses and has violently suppressed protests in the past. Francois himself has been a victim of their brutality, with his nose collapsing during severe physical torture. But he believes that the group has changed their behavior since then, especially towards activists. He has even received a message from them stating that they no longer have a problem with his activities, although he remains cautious.
As a human rights campaigner, Francois knows that there are still uncertainties and challenges ahead for LGBTQ+ Syrians. But he remains hopeful and believes that the downfall of the Assad regime will lead to a decrease in violence against the community. He hopes that many LGBTQ+ Syrians will be able to return to their home country and live without fear of persecution. The fact that over 260,000 LGBTQ+ Syrians have fled abroad to escape violence and discrimination is a testament to the dire situation they face under Assad's dictatorship.
In Syria, same-sex sexual activity is banned under the 1949 penal code, and individuals can face up to three years imprisonment for engaging in "unnatural" sexual acts. This law applies to both men and women, making life for LGBTQ+ Syrians even more challenging. Despite these challenges, Francois and many others continue to fight for their rights and celebrate the downfall of the Assad regime. They may not know what the future holds, but for now, they are choosing to focus on the happiness and hope that comes with the end of a brutal dictatorship.
Francois Zankih went through unimaginable torture and death threats during his time living in Syria. However, he now sees glimmers of hope in the new rulers of the country.
As a gay man in Syria, Francois was targeted and brutally tortured by the group that eventually overthrew Bashar al-Assad. Despite the fear and uncertainty about what the future may hold, Francois and many other LGBTQ+ Syrians are still celebrating the regime change.
In 2020, Francois was forced to flee Syria after being kidnapped twice by Hayʼat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a militant group. They even went as far as issuing a death notice against him. It was a terrifying and traumatic experience for Francois, but he has not let it stop him from speaking out against human rights violations.
Despite his personal experiences, Francois acknowledges that HTS has shown signs of change towards minorities. He believes that the downfall of Assad, who he describes as the biggest source of violence against the LGBTQ+ community, is a cause for celebration.
However, this does not mean that the situation has completely improved for LGBTQ+ Syrians. Anti-LGBT laws and extreme homophobia are still prevalent in many parts of Syrian society, and there is a real concern for the safety of those who identify as LGBTQ+ if they were to return.
According to Francois, there is no bigger risk for him and many other Syrians than the Assad family. As the founder of Syria’s First LGBT+ organization Guardians of Equality Movement, Francois has seen firsthand the atrocities committed by the regime against the LGBTQ+ community.
He explains, "Assad made the country a state of torture for LGBT+ people." But despite the fear and uncertainty about the future, Francois remains hopeful and determined to continue fighting for the rights of LGBTQ+ Syrians.
He believes that HTS is trying to change their image and build a relationship with the international community. While this is a positive development, Francois is still cautious and worried about what the future holds. He says, "Of course, we are worried about our future. I do not want HTS to be the government of Syria, ever."
The downfall of Assad came after more than 50 years of his family's rule over Syria. Opposition forces, led by HTS, reached Damascus in the early hours of December 8, 2020, and Assad fled to Russia.
Francois' personal experience with HTS dates back to 2016 when he was just a teenager and was kidnapped by the precursor to HTS, the al-Qaeda affiliated Jabhat al-Nusra. He was subjected to stoning and sexual torture. Not long after this ordeal, the group's leader publicly broke ranks with al-Qaeda and formed HTS.
In 2018, Francois was kidnapped and abused again by rebel groups, including HTS. He was tortured to the point where his nose collapsed, but he has not let it deter him from his activism. In fact, he believes that his activism and article writing on LGBT and gender rights are the reason why he was targeted.
Despite all of this, Francois believes that HTS has changed their behavior towards minorities since then. He acknowledges that they have protected groups such as Christians and have not targeted activists like himself.
However, there is still a sense of uncertainty and mistrust towards HTS. Francois received a message from the group saying that they no longer have a problem with his activities, but he is not sure if he can fully trust them.
He says, "HTS have not been targeting activists." While this is a positive development, Francois is aware that the group has been involved in alleged human rights abuses and has violently suppressed protests in the past.
The situation for LGBTQ+ rights in Syria under the Assad regime was dire. Same-sex activity was banned under the Penal Code 1949, with a maximum penalty of three years' imprisonment for both men and women. As a result, thousands of LGBTQ+ Syrians fled the country to escape persecution.
But with Assad's downfall, there is hope for change. Francois believes that the removal of the Assad regime will minimize violence against the LGBTQ+ community, and many LGBTQ+ Syrians may even be able to return to their home country.
However, there is still a long way to go for LGBTQ+ rights in Syria. The future is uncertain, but Francois remains optimistic. He says, "When we remove the biggest source of violence, which is the dictatorial, criminal Assad regime, we are minimizing violence against the LGBTQ+ community." And for now, that is a cause for celebration.
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