Muhsin Hendricks, widely recognized as the world’s first openly gay imam, was shot dead in South Africa, BBC reported on Sunday.
The 57-year-old cleric, who led a Cape Town mosque known for welcoming LGBTQ+ and marginalized Muslims, was ambushed on Saturday near Gqeberha. South African police stated that two masked gunmen fired multiple shots at the vehicle in which Hendricks was a backseat passenger.
Security footage circulating online shows a car blocking Hendricks’ vehicle before an assailant jumped out and fired repeatedly through the back window.
“Two unknown suspects with covered faces got out of the vehicle and started firing multiple shots at the vehicle,” police confirmed in a statement.
The Al-Ghurbaah Foundation, which operates Masjidul Ghurbaah mosque in Cape Town’s Wynberg suburb, described his killing as a “targeted attack.” The foundation’s board chair, Abdulmugheeth Petersen, urged the public to respect Hendricks’ family’s privacy as they mourned.
Reports suggest Hendricks was killed after officiating a lesbian wedding, though police have not confirmed this claim. His death has sparked an outpouring of grief, particularly from the LGBTQ+ community.
Julia Ehrt, executive director of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex Association, called for a full investigation into what may have been 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,” Ehrt said. “His life has been a testament to the healing that solidarity across communities can bring.”
Hendricks, who publicly came out as gay in 1996, faced significant opposition from South Africa’s Muslim community. That same year, he founded The Inner Circle, a support group for queer Muslims struggling to reconcile their faith and identity. He later established Masjidul Ghurbaah, an inclusive mosque.
South Africa, the first African country to legalize same-sex marriage, has constitutional protections for sexual orientation but continues to experience widespread anti-LGBTQ+ violence.
Reverend Jide Macaulay, a British-Nigerian LGBTQ activist and openly gay Anglican minister, called Hendricks’ death “heartbreaking.”
“Your leadership, courage, and unwavering dedication to inclusive faith communities have left an indelible mark,” he said.
Hendricks was the subject of The Radical, a 2022 documentary in which he reflected on the death threats he had received.
“The need to be authentic was greater than the fear to die,” he said.
