Openly Gay Imam Murdered in South Africa, Sparking Outcry
Gqeberha, South Africa – Muhsin Hendricks, a pioneering Muslim cleric and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, was fatally shot in a drive-by attack on Saturday morning in Gqeberha, South Africa. The 57-year-old, renowned as the world’s first openly gay imam, had dedicated his life to creating a safe space for LGBTQ+ Muslims.
According to reports, Hendricks was ambushed while in a vehicle. Security camera footage captured the moment of the attack, showing a car pulling up to block the vehicle Hendricks was in. An individual then exited the car and fired multiple shots into the backseat. The South African police confirmed the attack, stating that two masked suspects were involved. While the motive is still under investigation, unconfirmed reports suggest the killing may be linked to Hendricks officiating a lesbian wedding.
Hendricks was the founder of the Al-Ghurbaah Foundation, which operates the Masjidul Ghurbaah mosque in Cape Town. This mosque was a sanctuary for queer Muslims and marginalized women, offering them a place to practice their faith without judgment. The foundation confirmed his death, expressing profound grief over the targeted attack.
The news of Hendricks’ death has sent shockwaves through the global LGBTQ+ community. Julia Ehrt, the executive director of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA), has called for a thorough investigation, expressing concern that the killing could be a hate crime. Ehrt lauded Hendricks’ life as a symbol of solidarity across communities.
Hendricks’ journey began in 1996 when he publicly came out as gay, a move that challenged the norms of the Muslim community, both in South Africa and internationally. The same year, he established The Inner Circle, an organization designed to provide support and a safe environment for queer Muslims navigating their faith and sexuality. In 2022, a documentary titled “The Radical” was made about Hendricks. In the documentary, he stated that the need to be authentic was greater than the fear to die.
Post-apartheid South Africa has a strong LGBTQ+ rights record. The nation was the first in the world to constitutionally protect people from discrimination based on sexual orientation and the only African nation to legalize same-sex marriage (2006). Despite these legal advancements, the LGBTQ+ community still faces discrimination. High levels of violence and crime remain a concern in the country, and a degree of stigma persists within the Muslim community, which numbers approximately 1.6 million.
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