South Africa | 'First openly gay imam' shot dead

Muhsin Hendricks, who claimed to be "the first openly gay imam," was shot dead Saturday near Port Elizabeth in South Africa. He was reportedly the victim of a targeted attack.

He was known as "the first openly gay imam." Muhsin Hendricks, who rose to prominence when he came out as gay in 1996 while leading the Al Ghurbaah mosque in Wynberg, Cape Town, South Africa, was shot dead on Saturday near Port Elizabeth, provincial police said.

"At around 10am, the deceased (58 years old), Imam Moegsien Hendricks (his first name in the civil registry) and a driver were on board (a car)," a police statement said. "Two unknown suspects with covered faces (...) began firing several shots at the vehicle."

A police spokeswoman confirmed to AFP the authenticity of a video posted on social media that appeared to show a targeted attack. "The motive for the killing is unknown and is part of the ongoing investigation," police said in a statement.

The police spokeswoman told AFP she "did not want to speculate" on the motives for the murder.

The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA World) said in a statement that it was "deeply shocked by the news of Muhsin Hendricks' murder." ILGA World, its executive director, Julia Ehrt, said it "calls on the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation" into what it "fears to be a hate crime."

"The need to be authentic was greater than the fear of dying."

South Africa , with a population of about 62 million according to the 2022 census, has one of the highest homicide rates in the world.

With nearly 28,000 murders recorded from February 2023 to 2024, according to the latest annual police statistics, an average of more than 75 homicides are committed there every day.

Muhsin Hendricks was originally from Cape Town. His Al Ghurbaah mosque is known for being an LGBTQ-friendly place of worship “where queer Muslims and marginalized women can practice Islam,” the mosque’s website says.

“This mosque is a safe space for those who live on the periphery of Muslim society, often stigmatized and ostracized because of who they are, how they choose to identify,” he continues.

A documentary, which was dedicated to him in 2022, was presented at several festivals around the world.

"The need to be authentic was greater than the fear of dying," Muhsin Hendricks said of the threats he received because of his homosexuality.

Source: CNEWS, AFP, February 16, 2025

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