Muhsin Hendricks, considered the world’s first openly gay imam, was shot dead Saturday near the southern city of Gqeberha, South Africa, police said.
The imam, who ran a mosque intended as a safe haven for gay and other marginalised Muslims, was in a car with another person when a vehicle stopped in front of them and blocked their exit, the police said.
“Two unknown suspects with covered faces got out of the vehicle and started firing multiple shots at the vehicle,” the Eastern Cape force said.
Hendricks, involved in various LGBTQ advocacy groups, came out as gay in 1996.
He ran the Al-Ghurbaah mosque at Wynberg near his birthplace Cape Town.
Muhsin Hendricks
Hendricks, who was the subject of a 2022 documentary called “The Radical”, had previously alluded to threats against him.
News of Hendricks’ death has sent shockwaves through the LGBTQ+ community and beyond, prompting an outpouring of tributes from across the globe.
Julia Ehrt, executive director at the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (Ilga), called on the authoritiesto thoroughly investigate “what we fear may be a hate crime”.
“He 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,” she said.
Hendricks was killed after he had reportedly officiated at a lesbian wedding, though this has not been officially confirmed.
The details of the attack emerged through security footage that was shared on social media.
