Housemates are speaking out about the horrific fate of Muhammed Wisam Sankari, a gay Syrian refugee living in Istanbul who was kidnapped, raped, mutilated, and beheaded in late July, the BBC reports.

The Turkish LGBT rights group KAOSgl spoke with Wisam’s housemates, who described the extremely dangerous and terrifying environment LGBT refugees are facing in Istanbul.

One housemate, named Rayan, said that Wisam “was feeling very insecure recently” because of male groups wielding knives who had threatened to rape them on the street.