Muhsin Hendricks, widely recognized as the world’s first openly gay imam, was shot and killed over the weekend in South Africa, as authorities investigate the possibility of a hate crime.
According to a statement obtained by the BBC, police confirmed that Hendricks was attacked on Saturday morning while traveling near Gqeberha, in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province. His vehicle was reportedly ambushed.
“Two unknown suspects with covered faces got out of the vehicle and started firing multiple shots at the vehicle,” police said.
Hendricks was a prominent advocate for LGBTQ+ rights within the Muslim community. After publicly coming out as gay in 1996, he founded The Inner Circle, an organization dedicated to providing a safe space for gay Muslims.
Before coming out, Hendricks was married to a woman but divorced the same year he revealed his sexual orientation.
Authorities are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding his murder, while tributes pour in from human rights organizations and supporters worldwide.
Zackie Achmat in his tribute wrote
“Imam Muhsin Hendricks has been executed in the name of Islam.
Muhsin was killed because he was Muslim and gay. His cowardly assassins have not yet shown their faces. They are part of a cult of death and hate. In my view, they are a dangerous minority bent on the destruction of people and institutions they brand as anti-Islam.
His executioners are not the majority of Muslims who care about every living being on earth including every human person.
Muhsin cared for the community of believers because he loved humanity. He opened his heart, studied the Quran, Hadith and commentaries to become an Imam for everyone but particularly for the queer community, not only in our country but across the world. Muhsin fought for the rights of queer Muslims to a family life, marriage and to be full citizens in their communities based on the Islamic principles.
I have known Muhsin for nearly three decades. We were not friends or even comrades, even though Muhsin and I both were both queer public figures who hailed from Cape Town’s Muslim communities.
Muhsin fought for the right of queer Muslim believers to practice their faith but I represented a different tradition as a socialist activist who among other identities was an atheist and queer person. He could not reconcile my atheism with his faith and I have no doubt that it stemmed in part from the terrible odds he faced from the bigoted Ulamah and their followers.
As an atheist, I actively support people of faith, whether Muslim, Christian, Jewish, African traditionalist, Hindu, or others who base their beliefs on love and respect for all life. Any branches of faiths or atheism that fail to show humanity and love but instead spread hate and death must be condemned by all thinking people.
My condolences to every person who loved Muhsin and the many he cared for by giving his life. He is a true martyr for love, justice and peace.”
