Muhsin Hendricks, widely recognised as the world’s first openly gay Muslim imam, was tragically shot and killed in South Africa last Saturday in what is now being described as a targeted assassination by authorities.
Hendricks was ambushed in the southern city of Gqeberha by two masked men in a pick-up truck. Security footage shows one assailant exiting the vehicle, running towards Hendricks’ car, and firing multiple shots through the side window before fleeing the scene, according to the Associated Press. Hendricks’ driver survived the attack.
A Trailblazer for Queer Muslims
A proud South African, Hendricks made history in 1996 when he came out as gay while continuing his role as an imam. He went on to establish a mosque in Cape Town that welcomed LGBTQ+ Muslims, challenging conservative interpretations of Islam that reject homosexuality. Through his work, he sought to create a space where queer Muslims could embrace both their faith and their identities.
Hendricks was a well-respected LGBTQ+ advocate and a prominent voice in international queer rights discussions. In 2024, he spoke at the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) conference in South Africa. He was also the subject of the 2022 documentary The Radical, which highlighted his groundbreaking efforts in bridging Islam and LGBTQ+ inclusion.
His work, however, put him at serious risk. Hendricks had previously acknowledged receiving threats but remained undeterred. “It just didn’t bother me. The need to be authentic was greater than the fear to die,” he once said.
A Professionally Executed Attack?
South Africa’s Justice Ministry has launched an investigation into the possibility that Hendricks’ murder was a professional hit. The Democratic Alliance, the country’s second-largest political party, stated, “The nature of the killing strongly suggests a professional hit.”
In 2022, the Muslim Judicial Council of South Africa issued fatwas reaffirming that same-sex relationships were forbidden in Islam. Hendricks believed the council’s statements were directed at him and his inclusive mosque. Despite these tensions, the Council issued a statement following his murder, saying, “We unequivocally condemn his murder and any acts of violence targeting members of the LGBTQ+ community or any other community.”
Murdered While Performing Weddings
Initial reports suggested that Hendricks was travelling to officiate a same-sex wedding at the time of his death, but his Al-Gurbaah Foundation clarified that he was in Gqeberha to perform interfaith heterosexual marriages. He had just completed one ceremony and was en route to another when he was fatally shot.
His Legacy Lives On
Muhsin Hendricks’ death is a devastating loss for the global LGBTQ+ Muslim community. He provided a vital sanctuary for queer Muslims, proving that faith and identity can coexist. “I think it’s possible to be queer and Muslim or queer and Christian,” he once stated.
International LGBTQ+ organisations, including ILGA, have called for a full investigation, with ILGA’s executive director Julia Ehrt saying, “He supported and mentored so many people in South Africa and around the world in their journey to reconcile with their faith.”
