Muhsin Hendricks, considered the world's first openly gay imam, was killed on Saturday, February 15, near the southern town of Gqeberha, South Africa. Footage of the attack shows the man's murder.
The imam, who ran a mosque that served as a safe haven for gays and other marginalized Muslims, was in a car with another person when a vehicle blocked the road. Police reported that "two unknown suspects with their faces covered got out of the vehicle and began firing several gunshots at the vehicle." The attackers then fled. It was the driver who realized that Hendricks, sitting in the back, had been shot and killed.
A police spokeswoman confirmed to AFP the authenticity of a video shared on social media depicting the targeted killing in Bethelsdorp, near Gqeberha.
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Hendricks, active in various LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, came out as gay in 1996 and ran the Al-Ghurbaah Mosque in Wynberg, near his hometown of Cape Town. The mosque offers "a safe space where queer Muslims and marginalized women can practice Islam." Hendricks was the subject of a 2022 documentary titled "The Radical," in which he previously mentioned receiving threats, commenting that "the need to be authentic" was "greater than the fear of dying."
Comments (2)
It is very sad that a person like Hendricks was killed. His work for human rights and the Lgbtq+ community was important. I hope that the authorities can find those responsible for this ugly event. Violence must not be tolerated.
The murder of Muhsin Hendricks is a very sad thing and makes us think about how there is still so much violence against people who are different. We hope that the authorities find the culprits soon to bring justice.