Latest news with #TheRadical
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
South Africa police 'hot on heels' of suspects in gay imam killing
Police in South Africa are "hot on the heels" of the suspects behind the killing of Muhsin Hendricks, dubbed the world's first openly gay imam, Deputy Justice Minister Andries Nel has said. The 57-year-old was in a car when he was shot dead in broad daylight in the coastal city of Gqeberha on Saturday. CCTV footage of the incident shows a hooded figure running out of a pick-up truck that was blocking Hendricks' vehicle and then firing shots through the window. The imam was well known for his work in creating a safe haven for gay and other marginalised Muslims and his killing shocked the LGBTQ+ community and beyond. An investigation is under way but Nel told the Newzroom Afrika TV channel that it was too early to say whether it was a hate crime. Without giving further details, Nel said he was told by Deputy Police Minister Polly Boshielo that officers were tracking down the suspected killers. Born free, killed by hate - the price of being gay in South Africa The volunteers taking on South African crime Paying tribute to Hendricks, Nel said that he "was a South African that we can all be proud of, a South African that we can all aspire to be". Hendricks' work challenged traditional interpretations of Islam, which oppose same-sex relations. While being clear that it did not agree with Hendricks, South Africa's Muslim Judicial Council (MJC), one of the country's main religious bodies, condemned the killing. "As members of a democratic, pluralistic society, the MJC remains steadfast in advocating for peaceful coexistence and mutual respect, even amidst divergent views," it said. Another leading Muslim body - the United Ulama Council of South Africa -condemned "extrajudicial killings" and urged people not to jump to conclusions about the motive. South Africa's constitution, adopted after the end of white-minority rule in 1994, was the first in the world to protect people from discrimination because of their sexual orientation and in 2006, became the first country in Africa to legalise same-sex marriage. But despite a thriving LGBTQ+ community, gay people still face discrimination and violence. The country also has one of the highest murder rates in the world. Hendricks came out as gay in 1996, which shocked the wider Muslim community in his home city of Cape Town and elsewhere. That same year, he founded The Inner Circle, an organisation providing support and a safe space for queer Muslims seeking to reconcile their faith and sexuality before going on to establish the inclusive Masjidul Ghurbaah mosque. He was the subject of a documentary in 2022 called The Radical, in which he said about the threats he faced: "The need to be authentic was greater than the fear to die." Hendricks often spoke about the importance of interfaith dialogue and the need to address the mental health issues and trauma faced by LGBTQ+ individuals within religious communities. He told the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association World Conference in Cape Town last year: "It is important that we stop to look at religion as the enemy." Additional reporting by Todah Opeyemi. Homosexuality: The countries where it is illegal to be gay The Cape Town schools learning from transgender students 'Being openly gay has held my career back' - SA footballer South Africa's gay radio station makes waves How South Africa's oldest Quran was saved by Cape Town Muslims Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
BBC News
17-02-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Muhsin Hendricks' killing: South Africa police 'hot on heels' of suspects
Police in South Africa are "hot on the heels" of the suspects behind the killing of Muhsin Hendricks, dubbed the world's first openly gay imam, Deputy Justice Minister Andries Nel has 57-year-old was in a car when he was shot dead in broad daylight in the coastal city of Gqeberha on footage of the incident shows a hooded figure running out of a pick-up truck that was blocking Hendricks' vehicle and then firing shots through the imam was well known for his work in creating a safe haven for gay and other marginalised Muslims and his killing shocked the LGBTQ+ community and beyond. An investigation is under way but Nel told the Newzroom Afrika TV channel that it was too early to say whether it was a hate giving further details, Nel said he was told by Deputy Police Minister Polly Boshielo that officers were tracking down the suspected free, killed by hate - the price of being gay in South AfricaThe volunteers taking on South African crimePaying tribute to Hendricks, Nel said that he "was a South African that we can all be proud of, a South African that we can all aspire to be".While being clear that it did not agree with Hendricks on the permissibility of same-sex relationships, South Africa's Muslim Judicial Council (MJC), one of the country's main religious bodies, condemned the killing."As members of a democratic, pluralistic society, the MJC remains steadfast in advocating for peaceful coexistence and mutual respect, even amidst divergent views," it leading Muslim body - the United Ulama Council of South Africa -condemned "extrajudicial killings" and urged people not to jump to conclusions about the work challenged traditional interpretations of Islam, which oppose same-sex Africa's constitution, adopted after the end of white-minority rule in 1994, was the first in the world to protect people from discrimination because of their sexual orientation and in 2006, became the first country in Africa to legalise same-sex despite a thriving LGBTQ+ community, gay people still face discrimination and violence. The country also has one of the highest murder rates in the came out as gay in 1996, which shocked the wider Muslim community in his home city of Cape Town and same year, he founded The Inner Circle, an organisation providing support and a safe space for queer Muslims seeking to reconcile their faith and sexuality before going on to establish the inclusive Masjidul Ghurbaah was the subject of a documentary in 2022 called The Radical, in which he said about the threats he faced: "The need to be authentic was greater than the fear to die."Hendricks often spoke about the importance of interfaith dialogue and the need to address the mental health issues and trauma faced by LGBTQ+ individuals within religious told the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association World Conference in Cape Town last year: "It is important that we stop to look at religion as the enemy."Additional reporting by Todah Opeyemi. You may also be interested in: Homosexuality: The countries where it is illegal to be gayThe Cape Town schools learning from transgender students'Being openly gay has held my career back' - SA footballerSouth Africa's gay radio station makes wavesHow South Africa's oldest Quran was saved by Cape Town Muslims Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
Telegraph
17-02-2025
- Telegraph
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.
MTV Lebanon
16-02-2025
- MTV Lebanon
World's 'first openly gay imam' shot dead in South Africa
Muhsin Hendricks, a pioneering figure dubbed the world's first openly gay imam, has been shot dead in South Africa. The 57-year-old cleric ran a mosque in Cape Town intended as a safe haven for gay and other marginalised Muslims. He was killed on Saturday morning after the car in which he was travelling near the southern city of Gqeberha was ambushed. "Two unknown suspects with covered faces got out of the vehicle and started firing multiple shots at the vehicle," police said in a statement. 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 (LLGA), called on the authorities to 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. It shows a car pulling up and blocking the vehicle in which Hendricks was travelling as it was pulling away from the curb. According to police, the imam was in the back seat. The angle of CCTV footage reveals what happened from one side of the road - an assailant jumps out of a car, runs to the ambushed vehicle and shoots repeatedly through the back passenger window. Hendricks' Al-Ghurbaah Foundation, which runs the Masjidul Ghurbaah mosque in the Wynberg suburb of Cape Town, confirmed he had died in a targeted attack on Saturday morning. But Abdulmugheeth Petersen, chair of the foundation's board, appealed via a WhatsApp group for their followers to be patient, stressing the importance of protecting Hendricks' family. Hendricks' work challenged traditional interpretations of Islam and championed a compassionate, inclusive faith. South Africa's post-apartheid constitution was the first in the world to protect people from discrimination because of their sexual orientation and in 2006, became the first country in Africa to legalise same-sex marriage. But despite a thriving LGBT community, gay people still face discrimination and violence. The country also has one of the highest murder rates in the world. Hendricks came out as gay in 1996, which shocked the wider Muslim community in Cape Town and elsewhere. That same year, he founded The Inner Circle, an organisation providing support and a safe space for queer Muslims seeking to reconcile their faith and sexuality before going on to establish the inclusive Masjidul Ghurbaah mosque. He was the subject of a documentary in 2022 called The Radical, in which he said about the threats he faced: "The need to be authentic was greater than the fear to die." Hendricks often spoke about the importance of interfaith dialogue and the need to address the mental health issues and trauma faced by LGBTQ+ individuals within religious communities. He told the Ilga World Conference in Cape Town last year: "It is important that we stop to look at religion as the enemy." Reverend Jide Macaulay, an openly gay Anglican minister, described Hendricks' death as "truly heartbreaking". The British-Nigerian LGBTQ rights activist runs House of Rainbow, an organisation that provides support for gay people in Nigeria where same-sex relationships or public displays of affection are illegal, and paid tribute to Hendricks' bravery. "Your leadership, courage, and unwavering dedication to inclusive faith communities have left an indelible mark," he said. Sadiq Lawal, a gay Muslim man living in Nigeria, told the BBC that Hendricks, had made such an impact as he had made "the impossible possible" by saying the words: "I'm a queer imam." "He's a mentor to many queer Muslims in Africa, especially in Nigeria, because of religious extremism," he said. "I'm still in shock and devastated."
Express Tribune
16-02-2025
- Express Tribune
Openly gay South African imam Muhsin Hendricks shot dead
Listen to article Muhsin Hendricks, believed to be the world's first openly gay imam, was shot dead near the South African city of Gqeberha, police confirmed on Saturday. Authorities have yet to determine a motive for the killing, but LGBTQ+ rights groups have urged an investigation into a possible hate crime. Muhsin Hendricks was travelling in a car with another person when a vehicle blocked their path in Bethelsdorp, a suburb of Gqeberha, formerly known as Port Elizabeth, police said. 'Two unknown suspects with covered faces got out of the vehicle and started firing multiple shots at the vehicle,' the Eastern Cape police said in a statement. 'Thereafter, they fled the scene, and the driver noticed that Hendricks, who was seated at the back, was shot and killed.' A police spokesperson confirmed the authenticity of a video circulating on social media that appears to show the targeted attack. Authorities have urged witnesses to come forward. The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) condemned the killing and called for a thorough probe into whether it was a hate crime. '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,' said executive director Julia Ehrt in a statement. Born into a Muslim family in Cape Town, Hendricks married a woman and had children before coming out as gay in 1996. He later divorced and dedicated his life to advocating for LGBTQ+ inclusion in Islam. In 1998, he started hosting informal gatherings for LGBTQ+ Muslims in his home city, turning his garage into a space where they could meet without fear of judgement. After a friend shared an experience of hearing an anti-gay sermon at a local mosque, Hendricks decided to establish a dedicated place of worship. In 2011, he founded the Al-Ghurbaah mosque in Cape Town, which, according to its website, provides 'a safe space in which queer Muslims and marginalised women can practise Islam.' Hendricks, also the subject of the 2022 documentary The Radical, had previously spoken about receiving threats due to his work. South Africa has one of the world's highest murder rates, with 28,000 recorded killings in the year leading up to February 2024, according to police data. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether Hendricks' murder was related to his activism, but investigations are ongoing.
