In a shocking incident, Imam Muhsin Hendricks, known globally as the first openly gay Islamic cleric, was shot and killed in broad daylight in Gqeberha, South Africa. The 53-year-old religious leader, who had dedicated his life to creating a safe space for LGBT Muslims, was serving as the imam of the world’s first LGBT-friendly mosque.
According to eyewitnesses, Hendricks was sitting in a car with another individual when two masked assailants on a motorcycle approached and opened fire. The attackers fled immediately after the shooting, leaving Hendricks critically wounded. Despite efforts to save him, he succumbed to his injuries on the spot. A purported video of the assassination has surfaced online, sparking outrage and fear among his supporters.
For nearly 25 years, Hendricks had been a vocal advocate for LGBT Muslims, challenging deeply entrenched orthodox beliefs within the Islamic community. He founded The Inner Circle, an organisation providing support to Muslims struggling with their sexual identities, and played a pivotal role in offering same-sex marriage blessings—an act that drew the ire of conservative Islamic leaders.
His work was met with both praise and condemnation. While some lauded his efforts to make Islam more inclusive, others—particularly hardline religious scholars—deemed his actions blasphemous. Many Islamic clerics had openly declared that being LGBT was a crime under religious law, fueling hostilities toward Hendricks and his movement.
Hendricks’ murder has raised concerns over growing intolerance and violence against progressive voices within religious communities. While South Africa remains one of the most legally progressive countries regarding LGBT rights—being the first nation in the world to constitutionally outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation—societal attitudes remain largely conservative.
Islamic hardliners have historically opposed LGBT inclusivity, with many clerics denouncing homosexuality as a grave sin. In much of Africa, being gay is not just frowned upon but criminalised, with some nations enforcing the death penalty for same-sex relationships.
Hendricks’ supporters believe his assassination was a direct attack on his mission to create a more inclusive Islamic space. “He knew the risks he was taking, but he never wavered in his commitment,” said a member of The Inner Circle. “He believed that faith should never be a reason for exclusion.”
As the investigation into his murder unfolds, human rights groups and LGBT activists are calling for justice, demanding that authorities treat the killing as a targeted hate crime. Meanwhile, his People’s Mosque remains a symbol of resilience, carrying forward his vision of a world where faith and identity can coexist without fear.
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