Mohsin Hendricks, World’s First Gay Imam, Shot Dead in South Africa

Mohsin Hendricks, popularly known as the world’s first gay Imam, was shot dead and killed near Gqeberha a city in South Africa on Saturday. The Imam was in his car with another person when an unknown vehicle blocked their way.

“Two unidentified suspects with covered faces exited the vehicle and fired multiple shots at the car,” said the Eastern Cape Police in a statement to the media. “They flooded the scene. The driver later realised that Hendricks, who was sitting in the back, had been fatefully shot.” adds police.

Even though the clear motive for the attack is yet to be determined, the International Lesbian  Gay Bisexual Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) has strongly condemned the killing as a targeted attack. “The ILGA world family is in deep shock at the news of the murder of Mohsin Hendricks and calls on authorities to thoroughly investigate what we fear may be a hate crime,” said ILGA executive director, Julia Ehrt.

Gay Imam’s Activism

Hendricks led a mosque that provided a safe space for Muslim LGBTQ+ worshippers. He has been involved in LGBTQ+ rights advocacy since 1996. “I opened my garage, put a car down and invited people to have tea and talk,” said Mohsin to The Guardian in 2022. He began to host meetings for LGBTQ+ Muslims in his home city early during his working years.

In 2011, Hendricks decided to create a more welcoming space for sexual minorities after a friend informed him about a sermon condemning homosexuality. He founded the Al Ghurbah Mosque in Winnberg, around Cape Town in South Africa. The mosque served as a safe space for LGBTQ+ Muslims and marginalised women who practice Islam.

Born in a Muslim family, Hendrix married a woman and had children, but later got divorced before coming out to his family at the age of 29. 

According to police records, South Africa has one of the highest murder rates in the world.