Muhsin Hendricks, who holds the title of world’s first open gay imam, died in a planned attack near Gqeberha, South Africa, on Saturday.
Hendricks ran a special mosque for LGBTQ+ and marginalized Muslims to find sanctuary. At the time of his killing, he rode with another person in their vehicle, which unexpectedly encountered another car blocking their passage. The gunmen revealed their faces while using their guns as weapons against Hendricks until they left. Both gunmen drove their car to block the vehicle so that they could fire at the victim sitting in the back of the vehicle. Hendricks received fatal gunshots, which killed him instantly.
Multiple social media platforms present a video that seems to display the exact instance when the assassination happened. The police validated the video’s authenticity to start their investigation into the assassination, but they have not determined the reason behind the killing. The law enforcement authorities encourage anyone possessing knowledge about the incident to come forward and collaborate on solving the query.
Hendricks earned recognition as an important Muslim leader because he confronted traditional Islamic beliefs that rejected LGBTQ+ members. He spent his entire life advocating for an inclusive environment that welcomed understanding by pushing back against opposition and threats. Through his work, Hendricks provided strength to numerous LGBTQ+ Muslims who were trying to harmonize belief with ethnicity.
His passing represents a sad event that deeply affects both LGBTQ+ communities worldwide and the global Muslim community by causing immense sadness and anger among his supporters. The ongoing investigations have motivated people to seek justice for activists who defend equality in conservative religious environments.
Source: The Guardian
