Why was South Africa’s gay imam assassinated?
The man known as the world’s first gay imam, Muhsin Hendricks, was gunned down by two assassins on Feb. 15
By Christine Kinori
The investigation into the shocking death of Muhsin Hendricks, South Africa’s first gay imam, has not yet uncovered the identity or the motive of his assassins, but many suspect homophobia or religious intolerance.
The unknown assailants killed Hendricks in a car ambush on Feb. 15, when he was travelling to the southern city of Gqeberha, South Africa. Two masked men jumped out of their truck, walked towards Hendricks’s car, and opened fire multiple times. Police say they are searching for the reason behind the attack, but many suspect it was a homophobic assassination.
Who was Muhsin Hendricks?
Hendricks was a well-known LGBTQ+ activist in South Africa. He was a Muslim cleric and a beloved father of three. In the past, Hendricks has shared his story and what inspired his LGBTQ+ activism.
In 1991, Hendricks married his first wife, but they divorced in 1996. Throughout his marriage, Hendricks admitted he struggled with his sexuality and felt the marriage was a mistake. He sank into depression. Following his divorce, Hendricks sequestered himself in a barn for three months to pray for guidance. He finally found the answer he was seeking and publicly came out.
At the time, he taught at three mosques, and his story appeared all over the media. He was forced to quit his teaching job, and his family didn’t take the news well.
His coming out story inspired him to create a queer haven for Muslim LGBTQ+ individuals who are struggling and coming to terms with their sexuality. In 1996, he established the Inner Circle, a support prayer group for queer Muslims excommunicated from their mosques. The mosque later changed its name to Al-Fitrah Foundation.
Even with the growing backlash from the Islamic community, Hendricks continued to speak openly about the LGBTQ+ community and fight for queer rights in South Africa. In 2019, he traveled to Kenya to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. During the Covid pandemic, he turned to social media platforms, such as TikTok, to spread the message of love and acceptance. He made most of his videos for LGBTQ+ Muslims in Hindi and Urdu.
In 2022, he founded the Global Interfaith Network, which provides multi-faith training courses about faith, sexuality and human rights.
Muhsin Hendricks’s death
The police have been looking for the motive behind his death. Hendricks’s death rocked South Africa’s LGBTQ+ community, and many people took to social media to demand justice. The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) has called for a quick investigation into the killing and strongly condemned the attack. Two Islamic organizations, the Cape Town Ulama Board (CTUB) and the United Ulama Council of South Africa (UUCSA), also condemned the killing. The two boards clarified they didn’t agree with Hendricks’s activism, but said that violence is not the answer to a disagreement.
While the police are still looking for the masked men, many are celebrating the wonderful deeds that Hendricks did while he was alive. Outright International released a press statement paying tribute to Hendricks, calling him an LGBTQ+ rights champion and fearless activist. Many organizations also paid their tributes while celebrating Hendricks’s legacy.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa also expressed his “deep condolences” to the family, friends, and fellow activists of Imam Muhsin Hendricks. In his statement, Ramaphosa shared his concern that the killing of Hendricks might be a hate crime. However, Deputy Justice Minister Andries Nel stated that an inquiry into the murder is still underway and that it is too early to determine whether this was a hate crime or not.
The BBC reported that on the day of his murder Hendricks was traveling to officiate at two interfaith weddings of two heterosexual couples.
Hendricks’s death sheds light on the hazards and hate faced by many queer South Africans. Although South Africa legalized same-sex marriage in 2006, many religious groups continue to object to it. That leads to continuing stigma and hate crimes against the LGBTQ+ community.
Christine Kinori, the author of this article, is an entertainment and travel journalist living in Nairobi, Kenya, who advocates for equality and freedom of expression. In her writing, she seeks to raise awareness of the situation of the LGBTQ+ community in Africa.
