Claims of Assassination Follow the Murder of Gay Muslim Imam in South Africa

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Muhsin Hendricks, known as the first openly gay Muslim imam, was tragically shot and killed while seated in a vehicle in South Africa. This incident is being labeled by many as an assassination linked to his progressive teachings.

On Saturday, Hendricks was targeted by two masked assailants in a pick-up truck while visiting the coastal city of Gqeberha. According to police, surveillance footage shows one of the attackers exiting the vehicle and approaching Hendricks’ car, where he fired several shots through the window. Hendricks was accompanied by a driver, who fortunately survived the attack.

The motive behind this violent act remains unclear; however, political parties and LGBTQ+ organizations believe Hendricks was specifically targeted due to his establishment of a mosque in Cape Town that welcomes gay Muslims, as well as his advocacy for inclusivity within Islam. It’s important to note that homosexuality is traditionally prohibited in Islamic doctrine.

The Ministry of Justice in South Africa has opened an investigation into the incident, treating it as a possible assassination.

An internationally recognized figure, Hendricks addressed the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) conference held in South Africa last year.

Julia Ehrt, executive director of ILGA, expressed profound sadness over Hendricks’ murder, stating, “The ILGA community is in deep shock and calls for authorities to conduct a comprehensive investigation into what we suspect could be a hate crime. He was a source of support and guidance for countless individuals in South Africa and around the world seeking reconciliation with their faith.”

The ILGA highlighted that Hendricks had previously stated that some were advocating for the closure of his mosque, referring to it derogatorily as the “gay temple.”

The Democratic Alliance, the second-largest political party in South Africa, remarked that “the nature of the crime strongly points to a calculated assassination.”

In a 2022 interview, Hendricks revealed that he felt he was being targeted by fatwas, or legal rulings, from South Africa’s Muslim Judicial Council that year. These fatwas reminded the Muslim community that same-sex relationships were forbidden, despite the council advocating for the acceptance of gay Muslims who refrain from same-sex actions at mosques.

Hendricks was featured in a documentary titled “The Radical,” released that same year, where he spoke candidly about receiving threats but insisted that his commitment to authenticity outweighed his fear of death. The film also highlighted young gay Muslims who found a safe space to practice their faith under his guidance.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Muslim Judicial Council of South Africa acknowledged that while Hendricks’ views contradicted Islamic teachings, they “strongly condemn his murder and any acts of violence targeting LGBTQ individuals or any community.”

Raised in a conservative Muslim household, Hendricks initially married a woman before publicly coming out as a gay imam in the mid-1990s. He founded a support network and later established a mosque catered to gay Muslims. Through his Al-Ghurbaab Foundation, he championed their inclusion in faith communities and identified himself as “the world’s first openly queer imam.”

Hendricks expressed, “Seeing how queer Muslims navigated the conflict between their faith and their sexual identity compelled me to act. To help, I realized I needed to be true to myself and come out. I believe it is entirely possible to be both queer and Muslim, or queer and Christian.”

In a heartfelt tribute posted on its official Facebook page, the Al-Ghurbaab Foundation remembered Hendricks as “a devoted father and a protector to many. May he continue to rest among the angels.”