17-02-2025
World's first openly gay imam shot dead in South Africa
Muhsin Hendricks, thought to be the world's first openly gay imam, was killed in a drive-by shooting in South Africa.
The cleric, who ran a mosque intended as a safe haven for gay and other marginalised Muslims, was travelling in a car when he was ambushed on Saturday near the southern city of Gqeberha.
'Two unknown suspects with covered faces got out of the vehicle and started firing multiple shots…' the Eastern Cape force said in a statement.
'Thereafter they fled the scene, and the driver noticed that Hendricks, who was seated at the back of the vehicle was shot and killed.'
Mr Hendricks was killed after he had reportedly officiated at a lesbian wedding, although this has not been officially confirmed.
CCTV footage showed a car blocking the exit of the vehicle in which Mr Hendricks was a passenger. Two masked assailants then jumped out, and one fired multiple shots into the back seat of the other vehicle.
Police confirmed the video showed the targeted killing in Bethelsdorp near Gqeberha, formerly known as Port Elizabeth.
'The motive for the murder is unknown and forms part of the ongoing investigation,' police said, urging anybody with information to come forward.
Mr 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.
The mosque provides 'a safe space in which queer Muslims and marginalised women can practise Islam', its website states.
Tributes
News of his death has sent shockwaves through the LGBTQ+ community with an outpouring of tributes.
The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (Ilga) denounced the killing.
Julia Ehrt, its executive director, said: '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.'
The Global Interfaith Network described Hendricks as 'more than just a religious leader; he was a pioneer, a visionary, and a beacon of hope for countless marginalised Muslims worldwide'.
Mr Hendricks was the subject of the 2022 documentary The Radical, in which he alluded to threats against him. 'The need to be authentic [is] greater than the fear to die,' he said.
South Africa has one of the world's highest murder rates, with some 28,000 murders in the year to February 2024, according to police data.
In 2006, it became the first country in Africa to legalise same-sex marriage.
