He was receiving threats: First gay imam Muhsin Hendricks killed in assassination
In South Africa, religious leader Muhsin Hendricks has lost his life in an armed attack near the city of Gqeberha. Police have launched an investigation into the motive behind the attack.
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South African police announced that Muhsin Hendricks was killed after being targeted in an armed attack near the city of Gqeberha. In the incident, which occurred on Saturday, the vehicle Hendricks was in was intercepted by another car. According to information provided by police officials, two masked assailants got out of the vehicle and opened fire multiple times on the car Hendricks was in. While the attackers fled the scene, the driver realized that Hendricks had lost his life.
Authorities stated that no definitive information has been reached regarding the motive for the attack. It was noted that a comprehensive investigation has been launched into whether the murder was a hate crime.
The killing of Hendricks drew reactions from international human rights organizations. The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) condemned the murder and called on authorities to deepen the investigation.
Muhsin Hendricks began his efforts to create places of worship for LGBTQ+ individuals in 1998. At the Al-Ghurbaah Mosque in Cape Town, he offered a space where different segments of society could come together. In a statement he made in 2022, he emphasized the importance of providing an environment where individuals in the community could worship without being judged.
Hendricks had previously stated that he had received various threats due to his sexual identity. Hendricks, who was the subject of a documentary released in 2022, had declared, 'My need to be authentic is greater than my fear of death.'