Latest news with #Al-GhurbaahFoundation
New York Times
17-02-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
South African Imam and Gay Rights Advocate Is Shot Dead
A South African imam who devoted his life to promoting gay rights and tolerance for L.G.B.T.Q. Muslims was shot and killed in the coastal city of Gqeberha on Saturday, the police said. Muhsin Hendricks was credited by some as being the world's first openly gay imam. In 2018, he founded the Al-Ghurbaah Foundation, a nonprofit that provided support services for Muslims discriminated against for their sexual orientation. The organization worked to help Muslims around the world reconcile their faith with their sexual orientation and gender identity. A statement from the South Africa Human Rights Commission condemned the killing. It cited footage circulated on social media in which a hooded man emerged from a pickup truck and fired shots through the windows of a car in a residential area before speeding away. The video has not been verified by The New York Times. South Africa's deputy justice minister, Andries Nel, said it was too early to say whether the shooting was a hate crime, but he said that the police were 'hot on the heels of the suspects.' Mr. Hendricks faced fierce criticism in the country, not least on social media. In an interview on Monday with Newzroom Afrika, a South African digital channel, Mr. Nel said that, though there are debates among Muslims in South Africa about gay rights, those debates acknowledge the primacy of the country's constitutional protections. 'They have been unambiguous in reaffirming the values of our Constitution, the values of tolerance of plurality and of human respect,' he said. Mr. Hendricks was a prominent supporter of gay people in South Africa, which in 1998 became the first country in Africa to decriminalize homosexuality, when the Johannesburg High Court ruled that existing sodomy laws violated the post-apartheid Constitution. Aside from its constitutional provisions, a survey in 2021 by the research network Afrobarometer rated South Africa as the second-most tolerant country on the continent when it came to same-sex relationships, after the island nation of Cabo Verde. The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association said that it was 'deeply shocked' by the killing. Mr. Hendricks had mentored people in South Africa and around the world as they attempted to reconcile their faith and lives and was a 'testament to the healing that solidarity across communities can bring,' Julia Ehrt, the group's executive director, said in a statement. South Africa is seen as an outlier on the continent for its approach to gay rights. More than 30 of Africa's 54 countries criminalize same-sex couples, and in recent years at least six countries, including Ghana and Uganda, have taken steps toward harsher anti-gay laws.
CNN
17-02-2025
- CNN
Man hailed as world's first imam to say he was gay is shot dead in South Africa
A man hailed as the world's first imam to say he was gay was shot dead in South Africa on Saturday, local police said, in what rights groups fear could be a hate crime. Eastern Cape provincial police said in a statement it was investigating the death of Muhsin Hendricks, 58, in Bethelsdorp stating that the motive behind the killing was unclear. The statement said that at around 10 a.m. Saturday, 'Hendricks and a driver was inside a gold-colored VW TRoc in Haley Place, Extension 24, Bethelsdorp when a silver-colored Hilux double cab stopped in front and blocked them from driving off.' It added that: 'Two unknown suspects with covered faces got out of the vehicle and started firing multiple shots at the vehicle. Thereafter they fled the scene, and the driver noticed that Hendricks who was seated at the back of the vehicle was shot and killed.' A video, captured by a security camera, purporting to show the shooting incident has been shared widely on social media. CNN has not independently verified the video, and police said they could not confirm the video as an investigation is underway. Shootings are common in South Africa where murder rates – already among the highest in the world – are at a 20-year high. Hendricks was the 'first imam in the world to come out as gay' in 1996, according to a statement from the advocacy group the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA World) on Saturday. 'The ILGA World family is in deep shock at the news of the murder of Muhsin Hendricks, and calls on authorities to thoroughly investigate what we fear may be a hate crime,' Julia Ehrt, executive director at ILGA World, said in the statement. South Africa's Department of Justice and Constitutional Development said it was 'saddened' by Hendrick's murder and pledged to 'track and monitor that justice is dispensed' if his death is indeed confirmed as a hate crime. Hendricks founded the Al-Ghurbaah Foundation in Cape Town, where he served as executive director. The human rights organization provides support to 'Queer Muslims helping them to reconcile Islam with their Sexual orientation and Gender Identity,' according to the Al-Ghurbaah Foundation's website. The Muslim Judicial Council of South Africa (MJC) 'unequivocally' condemned the 'shocking killing' in a statement Sunday. 'It has been alleged that the killing may have been motivated by hatred towards Muhsin Hendricks due to his views on same-sex relationships. While the MJC has consistently maintained that Muhsin's position is incompatible with Islamic teachings, we unequivocally condemn his murder and any acts of violence targeting members of the LGBTQ community or any other community,' the MJC said. The imam was the subject of the 2022 documentary 'The Radical' which followed Hendricks establishing a mosque for LGBTQ+ Muslims in Cape Town, South Africa, amid death threats. 'The need to be authentic was greater than the fear to die,' Hendricks says in the film.
CNN
17-02-2025
- CNN
Man hailed as world's first imam to say he was gay is shot dead in South Africa
A man hailed as the world's first imam to say he was gay was shot dead in South Africa on Saturday, local police said, in what rights groups fear could be a hate crime. Eastern Cape provincial police said in a statement it was investigating the death of Muhsin Hendricks, 58, in Bethelsdorp stating that the motive behind the killing was unclear. The statement said that at around 10 a.m. Saturday, 'Hendricks and a driver was inside a gold-colored VW TRoc in Haley Place, Extension 24, Bethelsdorp when a silver-colored Hilux double cab stopped in front and blocked them from driving off.' It added that: 'Two unknown suspects with covered faces got out of the vehicle and started firing multiple shots at the vehicle. Thereafter they fled the scene, and the driver noticed that Hendricks who was seated at the back of the vehicle was shot and killed.' A video, captured by a security camera, purporting to show the shooting incident has been shared widely on social media. CNN has not independently verified the video, and police said they could not confirm the video as an investigation is underway. Shootings are common in South Africa where murder rates – already among the highest in the world – are at a 20-year high. Hendricks was the 'first imam in the world to come out as gay' in 1996, according to a statement from the advocacy group the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA World) on Saturday. 'The ILGA World family is in deep shock at the news of the murder of Muhsin Hendricks, and calls on authorities to thoroughly investigate what we fear may be a hate crime,' Julia Ehrt, executive director at ILGA World, said in the statement. South Africa's Department of Justice and Constitutional Development said it was 'saddened' by Hendrick's murder and pledged to 'track and monitor that justice is dispensed' if his death is indeed confirmed as a hate crime. Hendricks founded the Al-Ghurbaah Foundation in Cape Town, where he served as executive director. The human rights organization provides support to 'Queer Muslims helping them to reconcile Islam with their Sexual orientation and Gender Identity,' according to the Al-Ghurbaah Foundation's website. The Muslim Judicial Council of South Africa (MJC) 'unequivocally' condemned the 'shocking killing' in a statement Sunday. 'It has been alleged that the killing may have been motivated by hatred towards Muhsin Hendricks due to his views on same-sex relationships. While the MJC has consistently maintained that Muhsin's position is incompatible with Islamic teachings, we unequivocally condemn his murder and any acts of violence targeting members of the LGBTQ community or any other community,' the MJC said. The imam was the subject of the 2022 documentary 'The Radical' which followed Hendricks establishing a mosque for LGBTQ+ Muslims in Cape Town, South Africa, amid death threats. 'The need to be authentic was greater than the fear to die,' Hendricks says in the film.
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Yahoo
Man hailed as world's first imam to say he was gay is shot dead in South Africa
A man hailed as the world's first imam to say he was gay was shot dead in South Africa on Saturday, local police said, in what rights groups fear could be a hate crime. Eastern Cape provincial police said in a statement it was investigating the death of Muhsin Hendricks, 58, in Bethelsdorp stating that the motive behind the killing was unclear. The statement said that at around 10 a.m. Saturday, 'Hendricks and a driver was inside a gold-colored VW TRoc in Haley Place, Extension 24, Bethelsdorp when a silver-colored Hilux double cab stopped in front and blocked them from driving off.' It added that: 'Two unknown suspects with covered faces got out of the vehicle and started firing multiple shots at the vehicle. Thereafter they fled the scene, and the driver noticed that Hendricks who was seated at the back of the vehicle was shot and killed.' A video, captured by a security camera, purporting to show the shooting incident has been shared widely on social media. CNN has not independently verified the video, and police said they could not confirm the video as an investigation is underway. Shootings are common in South Africa where murder rates – already among the highest in the world – are at a 20-year high. Hendricks was the 'first imam in the world to come out as gay' in 1996, according to a statement from the advocacy group the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA World) on Saturday. 'The ILGA World family is in deep shock at the news of the murder of Muhsin Hendricks, and calls on authorities to thoroughly investigate what we fear may be a hate crime,' Julia Ehrt, executive director at ILGA World, said in the statement. South Africa's Department of Justice and Constitutional Development said it was 'saddened' by Hendrick's murder and pledged to 'track and monitor that justice is dispensed' if his death is indeed confirmed as a hate crime. Hendricks founded the Al-Ghurbaah Foundation in Cape Town, where he served as executive director. The human rights organization provides support to 'Queer Muslims helping them to reconcile Islam with their Sexual orientation and Gender Identity,' according to the Al-Ghurbaah Foundation's website. The Muslim Judicial Council of South Africa (MJC) 'unequivocally' condemned the 'shocking killing' in a statement Sunday. 'It has been alleged that the killing may have been motivated by hatred towards Muhsin Hendricks due to his views on same-sex relationships. While the MJC has consistently maintained that Muhsin's position is incompatible with Islamic teachings, we unequivocally condemn his murder and any acts of violence targeting members of the LGBTQ community or any other community,' the MJC said. The imam was the subject of the 2022 documentary 'The Radical' which followed Hendricks establishing a mosque for LGBTQ+ Muslims in Cape Town, South Africa, amid death threats. 'The need to be authentic was greater than the fear to die,' Hendricks says in the film.
CNN
17-02-2025
- CNN
Man hailed as world's first imam to say he was gay is shot dead in South Africa
A man hailed as the world's first imam to say he was gay was shot dead in South Africa on Saturday, local police said, in what rights groups fear could be a hate crime. Eastern Cape provincial police said in a statement it was investigating the death of Muhsin Hendricks, 58, in Bethelsdorp stating that the motive behind the killing was unclear. The statement said that at around 10 a.m. Saturday, 'Hendricks and a driver was inside a gold-colored VW TRoc in Haley Place, Extension 24, Bethelsdorp when a silver-colored Hilux double cab stopped in front and blocked them from driving off.' It added that: 'Two unknown suspects with covered faces got out of the vehicle and started firing multiple shots at the vehicle. Thereafter they fled the scene, and the driver noticed that Hendricks who was seated at the back of the vehicle was shot and killed.' A video, captured by a security camera, purporting to show the shooting incident has been shared widely on social media. CNN has not independently verified the video, and police said they could not confirm the video as an investigation is underway. Shootings are common in South Africa where murder rates – already among the highest in the world – are at a 20-year high. Hendricks was the 'first imam in the world to come out as gay' in 1996, according to a statement from the advocacy group the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA World) on Saturday. 'The ILGA World family is in deep shock at the news of the murder of Muhsin Hendricks, and calls on authorities to thoroughly investigate what we fear may be a hate crime,' Julia Ehrt, executive director at ILGA World, said in the statement. South Africa's Department of Justice and Constitutional Development said it was 'saddened' by Hendrick's murder and pledged to 'track and monitor that justice is dispensed' if his death is indeed confirmed as a hate crime. Hendricks founded the Al-Ghurbaah Foundation in Cape Town, where he served as executive director. The human rights organization provides support to 'Queer Muslims helping them to reconcile Islam with their Sexual orientation and Gender Identity,' according to the Al-Ghurbaah Foundation's website. The Muslim Judicial Council of South Africa (MJC) 'unequivocally' condemned the 'shocking killing' in a statement Sunday. 'It has been alleged that the killing may have been motivated by hatred towards Muhsin Hendricks due to his views on same-sex relationships. While the MJC has consistently maintained that Muhsin's position is incompatible with Islamic teachings, we unequivocally condemn his murder and any acts of violence targeting members of the LGBTQ community or any other community,' the MJC said. The imam was the subject of the 2022 documentary 'The Radical' which followed Hendricks establishing a mosque for LGBTQ+ Muslims in Cape Town, South Africa, amid death threats. 'The need to be authentic was greater than the fear to die,' Hendricks says in the film.
