Muhsin Hendricks, world’s ‘first overtly homosexual imam’, shot lifeless in South Africa | South Africa

Muhsin Hendricks, thought of the world’s “first overtly homosexual imam”, has been shot lifeless close to the southern metropolis of Gqeberha, South African police have mentioned.

The imam, who ran a mosque meant as a protected haven for homosexual and different marginalised Muslims, was in a automotive with one other particular person on Saturday when a automobile stopped in entrance of them and blocked their exit, police mentioned.

“Two unknown suspects with lined faces obtained out of the automobile and began firing a number of pictures on the automobile,” the Japanese Cape power mentioned in a press release.

“Thereafter they fled the scene, and the motive force observed that Hendricks, who was seated in the back of the automobile was shot and killed.”

A police spokesperson confirmed to AFP the authenticity of a video on social media that purported to point out a focused killing in Bethelsdorp close to Gqeberha, previously often called Port Elizabeth.

“The motive for the homicide is unknown and varieties a part of the continuing investigation,” police mentioned, urging anyone with data to come back ahead.

The Worldwide Lesbian, Homosexual, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Affiliation denounced the killing.

“The ILGA World household is in deep shock on the information of the homicide of Muhsin Hendricks, and calls on authorities to completely examine what we concern could also be a hate crime,” the chief director, Julia Ehrt, mentioned in a press release.

Hendricks, concerned in varied LGBTQ+ advocacy teams, got here out as homosexual in 1996. Two years later he began internet hosting conferences in his residence metropolis for LGBTQ+ Muslims, who handled him like their group imam. “I opened my storage, put a carpet down and invited individuals to have tea and discuss,” he informed the Guardian in 2022.

In 2011 Hendricks bolstered his position as an imam determine by organising a mosque area after a buddy endured a neighborhood sermon condemning homosexuality. “I mentioned, ‘Perhaps it’s time we began our personal area, so individuals can pray with out being judged’.”

He ran the Al-Ghurbaah mosque at Wynberg close to his birthplace, Cape City. The mosque supplies “a protected area during which queer Muslims and marginalised girls can practise Islam”, its web site states.

Hendricks, the topic of a 2022 documentary known as The Radical, had beforehand alluded to threats in opposition to him.

He informed the Guardian he had been suggested to rent bodyguards however mentioned he by no means feared assaults and insisted that “the have to be genuine” was “higher than the concern to die”.

Hendricks, who had labored as an Arabic language trainer and dressmaker, was 29 when he got here out to his mom. Born right into a Muslim household, he married a lady, had kids, then divorced earlier than revealing his sexuality to his household, eight years after his father died.

South Africa has one of many world’s highest homicide charges, with 28,000 murders within the 12 months to February 2024, in line with police information.