Muhsin Hendricks, widely regarded as the world’s first openly gay imam, was shot and killed in South Africa on Saturday.
The 57-year-old cleric, who led an inclusive mosque in Cape Town for LGBTQ+ and marginalized Muslims, was fatally ambushed while traveling near Gqeberha.
According to police, “two unknown suspects with covered faces got out of the vehicle and started firing multiple shots” at Hendricks’ car.
Security footage circulating on social media captured the moment a vehicle blocked his car as it pulled away from the curb.
A gunman then rushed toward the back passenger window, where Hendricks was seated, and fired multiple times. News of his death has sent shockwaves through the global LGBTQ+ community.
Julia Ehrt, executive director of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (Ilga), urged authorities to conduct a thorough investigation, expressing concerns that “what we fear may be a hate crime” was behind the attack.
She praised Hendricks for mentoring and supporting people worldwide, noting that “his life has been a testament to the healing that solidarity across communities can bring.”
Hendricks’ Al-Ghurbaah Foundation, which operates the Masjidul Ghurbaah mosque in Cape Town’s Wynberg suburb, confirmed his death, calling it a “targeted attack.”
Abdulmugheeth Petersen, chair of the foundation’s board, urged followers to remain patient and respect the privacy of Hendricks’ family.
Hendricks was known for challenging traditional Islamic interpretations, advocating for an inclusive and compassionate faith. He first came out as gay in 1996, a revelation that shocked the wider Muslim community in Cape Town and beyond.
That same year, he founded The Inner Circle, an organization offering a safe space for queer Muslims struggling to reconcile their faith and sexuality. Later, he established the Masjidul Ghurbaah mosque, welcoming LGBTQ+ Muslims.
Despite South Africa’s progressive post-apartheid constitution, which was the first in the world to protect individuals from discrimination based on sexual orientation, and its legalization of same-sex marriage in 2006, the LGBTQ+ community continues to face violence and discrimination.
South Africa also has one of the highest murder rates globally.
Hendricks frequently spoke on interfaith dialogue and the mental health struggles LGBTQ+ individuals face within religious communities.
In 2022, he was the subject of a documentary titled The Radical, where he addressed the dangers he faced, stating, “The need to be authentic was greater than the fear to die.”
At the Ilga World Conference in Cape Town last year, he emphasized that “it is important that we stop to look at religion as the enemy.”
Reverend Jide Macaulay, an openly gay Anglican minister and LGBTQ+ activist, described Hendricks’ death as “truly heartbreaking,” adding, “Your leadership, courage, and unwavering dedication to inclusive faith communities have left an indelible mark.”
Sadiq Lawal, a gay Muslim man in Nigeria, expressed his grief, calling Hendricks an inspiration. “He made the impossible possible by saying the words: ‘I’m a queer imam,'” Lawal said.
“He’s a mentor to many queer Muslims in Africa, especially in Nigeria, because of religious extremism. I’m still in shock and devastated.”
Source-BBC
