Muhsin Hendricks, popularly recognised as the world’s first openly gay imam, has been shot and killed in South Africa.
The 57-year-old cleric, who led a mosque in Cape Town known
as a safe haven for LGBTQ+ and marginalized Muslims, was ambushed on Saturday
morning while traveling near the southern city of Gqeberha.
According to police, “Two unknown suspects with covered
faces got out of the vehicle and started firing multiple shots at the vehicle,”
as quoted by the BBC.
Hendricks’ death has sent shockwaves through the LGBTQ+
community and beyond, with tributes pouring in from around the world.
Julia Ehrt, executive director at the International Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (Ilga), urged authorities to
conduct a thorough investigation into “what we fear may be a hate crime.”
She described Hendricks as someone who “supported and
mentored so many people in South Africa and around the world in their journey
to reconcile with their faith, and his life has been a testament to the healing
that solidarity across communities can bring in everyone’s lives.”
While reports suggest that Hendricks was killed shortly
after officiating a lesbian wedding, authorities have yet to confirm this.
Security footage of the attack, which surfaced on social
media, shows a car pulling up to block the vehicle Hendricks was in as it
attempted to leave the curb.
An assailant is seen jumping out, running to the vehicle,
and firing repeatedly through the back passenger window where police confirm
Hendricks was seated.
His Al-Ghurbaah Foundation, which runs the Masjidul Ghurbaah
mosque in Cape Town’s Wynberg suburb, confirmed his death, calling it a
targeted attack.
However, Abdulmugheeth Petersen, chair of the foundation’s
board, urged followers via WhatsApp to remain patient and respect the privacy
of Hendricks’ family.
Muhsin Hendricks was known for challenging traditional
interpretations of Islam and advocating for an inclusive, compassionate faith.
Since coming out as gay in 1996, he had been a trailblazer
for queer Muslims, founding The Inner Circle to support those seeking to
reconcile their faith with their sexuality before later establishing Masjidul
Ghurbaah as an inclusive space for worship.
South Africa, despite being the first country in the world
to enshrine LGBTQ+ protections in its post-apartheid constitution and
legalizing same-sex marriage in 2006, still grapples with discrimination and
violence against the community.
The country also has one of the highest murder rates in the
world.
Hendricks’ activism made a lasting impact, as reflected in
the 2022 documentary The Radical, in which he addressed the threats he faced,
saying, “The need to be authentic was greater than the fear to die.”
He was also a strong advocate for interfaith dialogue and
spoke about the mental health struggles faced by LGBTQ+ individuals within
religious spaces.
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It's absolutely wrong to kill a person because of their twisted sexual orientation, nevertheless it's also twice wrong to live a twisted sexual life. I hope people will repent genuinely and live righteous lives, not killing others in the name of allah
ReplyDeleteIt is absolutely wrong to kill a person because of their twisted sexual orientation, but it's twice wrong to be sexually perverted.
ReplyDeleteI hope everyone will repent genuinely and live righteous lives. Not murdering in the name of allah