World first imam gay, Muhsin Hendricks shot dead in South africa

Muhsin Hendricks, known as the world’s first openly gay imam, has been shot dead in Cape Town, South Africa.

Hendricks, who ran a mosque designed as a safe space for LGBTQ+ and other marginalized Muslims, was in a car with another person when a vehicle stopped in front of them. Armed individuals, with their faces covered, opened fire before driving away.

The tragic incident reportedly took place on Saturday.

Confirming the incident, the Police said: ‘Two unknown suspects with covered faces got out of the vehicle and started firing multiple shots at the vehicle

“Thereafter they fled the scene, and the driver noticed that Hendricks, who was seated at the back of the vehicle was shot and killed.”

Although before his death, Hendricks was involved  in various LGBTQ+ advocacy groups and came out as gay in 1996.

Two years later he started hosting meetings in his home city for LGBTQ+ Muslims, who treated him like their community imam. 

“I opened my garage, put a carpet down and invited people to have tea and talk,” he told the Guardian in 2022.

In 2011 Hendricks Proved his role as an imam figure by setting up a mosque space after a friend endured a local sermon condemning homosexuality. “I said, ‘Maybe it’s time we started our own space, so people can pray without being judged’.” he said 

He ran the Al-Ghurbaah mosque at Wynberg near his birthplace, Cape Town. The mosque provides “a safe space in which queer Muslims and marginalised women can practise Islam”

In 2011, Hendricks cemented his role as an imam by establishing a mosque after a friend endured a sermon condemning homosexuality. Recalling the moment, he said: “I said, ‘Maybe it’s time we started our own space, so people can pray without being judged”

He went on to lead Al-Ghurbaah Mosque in Wynberg, near his birthplace in Cape Town. The mosque was dedicated to providing “a safe space in which queer Muslims and marginalized women can practice Islam.”

South Africa has long struggled with high crime and murder rates, and this attack adds to the growing concern over violence in the country.