Muhsin Hendricks, widely regarded as the world’s first openly gay imam, has been shot and killed in South Africa, BBC reported on Sunday.
The 57-year-old cleric, who led the Masjidul Ghurbaah mosque in Cape Town, known for its welcoming stance toward LGBTQ+ and marginalized Muslims, was ambushed on Saturday near the southern city of Gqeberha.
According to South African police, two masked gunmen opened fire on the vehicle in which Hendricks was a backseat passenger. Security footage, widely shared on social media, shows a car blocking Hendricks’ vehicle before an assailant exited and repeatedly fired through the back window.
“Two unknown suspects with covered faces exited the vehicle and began firing multiple shots at the car,” the police stated.
The Al-Ghurbaah Foundation, which runs the Masjidul Ghurbaah mosque in Cape Town’s Wynberg suburb, confirmed Hendricks’ death, calling it a targeted attack.
The foundation’s board chair, Abdulmugheeth Petersen, urged the public to respect the privacy of Hendricks’ family during this difficult time.
While reports suggest that Hendricks was killed after officiating a lesbian wedding, police have not confirmed this detail.
The news of his death has led to an outpouring of tributes from the LGBTQ+ community. Julia Ehrt, Executive Director at the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA), expressed her grief and 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 was a testament to the healing that solidarity across communities can bring.”
Hendricks, who came out as gay in 1996, faced significant backlash within South Africa’s Muslim community. In the same year, he founded The Inner Circle, a support organization for queer Muslims seeking to reconcile their faith and identity. He later established the inclusive Masjidul Ghurbaah mosque.
South Africa, which legalized same-sex marriage in 2006, provides 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 a 2022 documentary, The Radical, in which he reflected on the death threats he had received. “The need to be authentic was greater than the fear of death,” he said.
