Muhsin Hendricks, a pioneer figure, called the world’s first gay, was shot dead in South Africa.
The 57-year-old clergy led a mosque in Cape Town, designed as a safe shelter for gays and other marginalized Muslims. He was killed on Saturday morning after a car in which he was driving near the southern city of GcEberh.
“Two unknown suspects with their faces came out of the vehicle and started firing several shots into the vehicle,” the police said.
The news about the death of Hendricks sent shock waves through the LGBTQ+ community and further, which caused the calculation of tribute from all over the world.
Julia Ert, Executive Director of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans -and (ILGA), urged the authorities to investigate “what we are afraid of, may be a crime of hatred.”
“He supported and taught so many people in South Africa and all over the world in his path to reconciling his faith, and his life has become a testimony to healing that solidarity in different communities can bring in everyone’s life,” she said.
Hendrix was killed after he reportedly worked at a lesbian wedding, although it was not officially confirmed.
The details of the attack arose through the security personnel that were divided into social media.
It shows that the car pulls up and blocks the vehicle in which Hendrix was traveling when it was distracted by the curb. According to the police, Imam was in the back seat.
CCTV shots shows what happened on one side of the road – the attacker jump out of the car, goes to the car in ambush and shoots repeatedly through the rear passenger window.
The al-Gurba Hendrix Foundation, which manages Masjidul Gurba Mosque in the suburbs of Vanberg from Cape Town, confirmed that he died in a focused attack on Saturday morning.
But Abdulmugut Petersen, chairman of the Foundation Council, appealed through the WhatsApp group to make their followers patient, emphasizing the importance of protecting the Hendrix family.
Handrix’s work challenged the traditional interpretations of Islam and advocated a merciful, inclusive faith.
The Constitution after the apartheid of South Africa became the first in the world to protect people from discrimination because of their sexual orientation and in 2006 became the first country in Africa to legalize same-sex marriage.
But despite the flowering LGBT community, gays are still faced with discrimination and violence. The country also has one of the highest levels of murder in the world.
Hendricks came to the role of gay in 1996, which shocked the wide Muslim community in Cape Town and elsewhere.
In the same year, he founded an internal circle, an organization that supported and safe space for Muslims, seeking to reconcile their faith and sexuality before continuing Masjidul Gurba.
He was the subject of a documentary in 2022 under the name “Radical”, in which he said about the threats he faced: “The need to be true was greater than the fear of die.”
Hendrix often spoke about the importance of interfaith dialogue and the need to solve mental health problems and injuries faced by LGBTK+ persons in religious communities.
Last year, he told the ILGA World Conference in Cape Town: “It is important that we stop looking at religion as an enemy.”
Reverend Japala Makala, openly Gay -Anglican minister, called Hendrix’s death as “really strange.”
The British-Nigerian human rights activist LGBTK manages the Rainbow House, an organization that provides support for gay people in Nigeria, where same-sex relationship or publicity of commitment are illegal and give tribute to Hendris courage.
“Your leadership, courage and unwavering devotion to the inclusive communities of the faith have left a lasting mark,” he said.
Sadyk Lowal, Gay Muslim, who lives in Nigeria, said the BBC that Hendrix made such an influence as “impossible”, saying: “I and imam.”
“He is a teacher for many Muslims in Africa, especially in Nigeria, from religious extremism,” he said.
“I’m still shocked and devastated.”
