27-year-old Bashar, a leading gay activist in Iraq, has been assassinated, says Peter Tatchell of Human Rights group Outrage!

"He was the organiser of the safe houses for gays and lesbians in Baghdad. His efforts saved the lives of dozens of people," Tatchell said in a statement.

"Militias burst in and sprayed his body with bullets at point blank range."

Tatchell says Bashar was a kind, generous and extremely brave young man. "A true hero who put his life on the line to save the lives of others."

The exact identity of the gunmen is unclear, but those responsible are most likely Islamist death squads who are targeting lesbian and gay Iraqis for 'sexual cleansing', says Outrage!

While homosexuality is not illegal in Iraq, the country is in a de facto state of civil war and some militias have been known to seek out and kill homosexual and transgender Iraqis.