Muhsin Hendricks, Openly Gay Muslim Imam, Fatally Shot in South Africa
Muhsin Hendricks, the first openly gay Muslim imam, was shot dead in Gqeberha, South Africa, in what many believe was an assassination due to his progressive teachings on LGBTQ+ inclusion in Islam.
Hendricks was ambushed by two masked men while sitting in a car on Saturday, February 17, 2025. Security footage shows one assailant firing multiple shots through the vehicle’s window before fleeing in a pickup truck. The driver survived, but police have yet to establish a motive.
Hendricks, an international LGBTQ+ activist, founded a Cape Town mosque for gay Muslims and advocated for a more inclusive interpretation of the Quran. His efforts drew fierce opposition from conservative Islamic leaders.
South Africa’s Justice Ministry has launched an investigation into claims that Hendricks was assassinated. The Democratic Alliance, South Africa’s second-largest political party, described the murder as a professional hit.
Hendricks had previously faced death threats and fatwas from South Africa’s Muslim Judicial Council (MJC), which reaffirmed Islam’s prohibition on same-sex relationships but condemned his murder.
In a 2022 documentary, The Radical, Hendricks stated:
“The need to be authentic was greater than the fear to die.”
His death has sparked global outrage, with LGBTQ+ organizations and human rights activists demanding justice.
Source: africanews