World's 'First Openly Gay Imam', Muhsin Hendricks Shot Dead In South Africa

Muhsin Hendricks, 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, considered a safe haven for gay and other marginalised Muslims. 

Hendricks was killed on Saturday morning after his car in which he was travelling was ambushed near the southern city of Gqeberha, reported BBC. The police said in a statement that two unknown suspects with "covered faces got out of the vehicle and started firing multiple shots at the vehicle." 

The murder of the imam took place after he reportedly officiated at a lesbian wedding, the report stated, adding there has been no official confirmation of this. 

The security footage of the attack which was shared on social media gave hints on the details of the attack. The footage shows a car pulling up and blocking the vehicle in which Hendricks was travelling as it was pulling away from the curb. 

The imam was sitting at the back, according to police. The angle of the CCTV footage showed what happened from one side of the road: an assailant jumped out of a car, ran to the ambushed vehicle and shot repeatedly through the back passenger window.

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The imam's death was confirmed by Hendricks' Al-Ghurbaah Foundation, which runs the Masjidul Ghurbaah mosque in the Wynberg suburb of Cape Town. Chirperson of the foundation's board, Abdulmugheeth Petersen appealed via a WhatsApp group for their followers to be patient, stressing the importance of protecting Hendricks' family.

Hendricks revealed his sexuality in 1996 shocking the wider Muslim community in Cape Town and elsewhere. The 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 establishing the inclusive Masjidul Ghurbaah mosque. 

Hendricks was the subject of a 2002 documentary called The Radical, where he spoke about the threat he faced: "The need to be authentic was greater than the fear to die."

The British-Nigerian imam rallied for the importance of interfaith dialogue and the need to address the mental health issues and trauma faced by LGBTQ+ individuals within religious communities.

South Africa became the first country in Africa to legalise same-sex marriage in 2006 and its post-apartheid constitution was the first in the world to protect people from discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation.