A gay teen (who is originally from Iraq) had his throat slashed by his father just because he was gay. Thank the gods he lived to tell the story.

The 17-year-old lived in Bern, Switzerland, and was attacked by his father, a devout Muslim, in their home.

The teen told local reporters he woke up to his dad standing over his bed with a knife screaming:

“You are gay!? You are gay!?”

He then slashed his son’s throat with the weapon. The teen managed to fight his father off and neighbors called EMTs. He had to be airlifted to hospital with severe injuries to his throat, chest, back and arms.

“Fortunately, my father missed the carotid artery, but the trachea was badly injured. I had to be put in an induced coma.”

Six months later, despite his incredible recovery, he is still reminded of the traumatic attack by visible scarring.

“I see the injuries in the mirror or when I take selfies and appear in snaps. They will accompany me for the rest of my life.

He says that he is getting therapy and he feels like

“a freer person than before”.

He said he had always hidden his sexual orientation from his family. He knew it would be difficult for his family because of their religion. He never imagined that his father would be capable of what he did to his own son.

He is sharing his story to help other LGBTQ people from Islamic backgrounds to seek advice and get help when considering coming out.

“We are living in 2019 and my dad wanted me dead because I am attracted to men. I just cannot accept that. I hid for long enough, this is the end of that now.”

The teens father was arrested by local police, but it is unclear what the status of the case is or if he will stand trial.

He has now moved to a different area of the city and is living alone. 

(via Pink News)