Muhsin Hendricks, celebrated as the world’s first openly gay imam, was brutally shot dead in a targeted attack in South Africa on Saturday morning. The 57-year-old cleric, who dedicated his life to creating a safe space for LGBTQ+ Muslims at his mosque in Cape Town, was ambushed while traveling near Gqeberha. Police reported that two masked assailants blocked his vehicle and fired multiple shots, killing him instantly.
The attack has reverberated through the global LGBTQ+ community, sparking grief and outrage. Security footage circulating online shows a vehicle obstructing Hendricks’ car, followed by an assailant rushing to the back passenger seat—where Hendricks was seated—and unleashing a hail of bullets before fleeing.
Julia Ehrt, executive director of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA), demanded a thorough investigation, stating, “We fear this may be a hate crime.” She praised Hendricks for mentoring countless individuals in reconciling their faith and sexuality, emphasizing his life as “a testament to the healing power of solidarity across communities.”
Hendricks’ Al-Ghurbaah Foundation, which operates the Masjidul Ghurbaah mosque in Wynberg, Cape Town, confirmed his death, urging patience from supporters to protect his family during this time. Abdulmugheeth Petersen, the foundation’s board chair, stressed the need for privacy in a WhatsApp appeal to followers.
Coming out as gay in 1996, Hendricks shocked Cape Town’s Muslim community but remained steadfast. That year, he founded The Inner Circle, a support network for queer Muslims, and later established Masjidul Ghurbaah as an inclusive worship space. His work challenged traditional Islamic interpretations, advocating for compassion and inclusion. In the 2022 documentary “The Radical,” he spoke of facing death threats but declared, “The need to be authentic was greater than the fear to die.”
At last year’s ILGA World Conference in Cape Town, Hendricks highlighted the importance of interfaith dialogue, saying, “It is important that we stop to look at religion as the enemy,” addressing the mental health struggles faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in religious communities.
Reverend Jide Macaulay, an openly gay Anglican minister and founder of House of Rainbow in Nigeria, mourned Hendricks as a trailblazer, calling his death “truly heartbreaking.” He praised Hendricks’ courage in fostering inclusive faith spaces, noting his profound impact on global LGBTQ+ advocacy.
Sadiq Lawal, a gay Muslim in Nigeria, shared his devastation, crediting Hendricks for making “the impossible possible” by embracing his identity as a queer imam. “He mentored many queer Muslims in Africa, especially in Nigeria, amid religious extremism,” Lawal said.
South Africa’s progressive constitution, the first globally to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation, and its legalization of same-sex marriage in 2006, stand in stark contrast to the persistent violence against its LGBTQ+ community. The nation also grapples with one of the world’s highest murder rates, amplifying fears that Hendricks’ killing may be linked to his advocacy, especially amid unconfirmed reports that he officiated a lesbian wedding prior to his death.
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