South Africa faces an international outcry after Muhsin Hendricks, hailed as the world's first openly gay Muslim imam, was executed in a targeted shooting on Saturday. Security footage shows masked assailants ambushing Hendricks’ vehicle in Gqeberha before firing multiple shots through his car window. Police confirm the attackers used a pickup truck to block his escape.
LGBTQ+ advocacy groups insist Hendricks’ groundbreaking work made him a target. As founder of Cape Town’s Inclusive Mosque for queer Muslims, he challenged Islamic orthodoxy by asserting that “being queer and devout aren’t mutually exclusive.” His Al-Ghurbaab Foundation provided spiritual guidance to thousands navigating conflicts between faith and sexuality.
The Democratic Alliance party called the killing a “professionally coordinated assassination,” citing the attackers’ concealed identities and rapid escape. ILGA World executive director Julia Ehrt stated:
“Muhsin mentored marginalized believers globally. This calculated violence seeks to silence progress toward LGBTQ+ acceptance in religious spaces.”
Key unresolved questions include:
- Why authorities haven’t classified the case as a hate crime
- Potential links to death threats against Hendricks’ mosque
- Contradictions between South Africa’s progressive constitution and conservative religious factions
While the Muslim Judicial Council condemned the murder, it reiterated that Hendricks’ “teachings conflicted with Islamic doctrine.” This friction underscores broader tensions as African LGBTQ+ activists increasingly demand representation within faith communities.
Hendricks’ legacy includes a 2023 keynote at ILGA’s conference, where he argued:
“Authenticity saves lives. I came out so others could pray without shame.”Investigators face pressure to address South Africa’s 72% surge in hate crimes since 2022.