‘I was tortured in Syria for being gay — now I’m terrified what the future will bring’

Francois Zankih was exposed to torture and death threats when he lived in Syria, but says that the country’s new rulers have shown signs of change (Picture: Supplied/Reuters)

A gay Syrian man who was brutally tortured by the group that toppled Bashar al-Assad has said he and many other LGBTQ+ Syrians are still celebrating regime change in Syria – despite their fears over what the future may bring.

Francois Zankih was forced to flee Syria in 2020 after Hayʼat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) twice...