In South Africa, Imam Muhsin Hendricks, who revealed that he was gay, was shot dead at the door of his mosque. Hendricks had responded to threats by stating that “the need to exist is greater than the fear of death” and had tried to make his mosque a center for homosexuals.

South African police announced the shooting death of Muhsin Hendricks, considered the “world’s first gay imam.” The slain imam served at a mosque intended to be a safe haven for gay Muslims.

GUNFIRE BLOCKED HIS WAY According to a police spokesperson, yesterday, as the imam tried to leave the mosque, a vehicle blocked his way and did not allow him to exit. Two unidentified suspects with covered faces got out of the car and started firing at the car with the imam inside. After the attack, the suspects fled, while Hendricks lost his life at the scene. The motive for the murder remains unclear, and the police have initiated an investigation into the incident. WHO WAS MUHSIN HENDRICKS, THE WORLD’S FIRST GAY IMAM? Muhsin Hendricks, who was involved in various LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, came out as gay in 1996. Two years later, he began organizing meetings for LGBTQ+ Muslims in his community, acting as a community imam. In 2011, Hendricks started serving at a mosque, strengthening his role as an imam figure.

“THE NEED TO EXIST IS GREATER THAN THE FEAR OF DEATH” Featured in the 2022 documentary “The Radical,” Hendricks had previously mentioned threats directed at him. In an interview with The Guardian, he mentioned being advised to hire protection but stated that he never feared attacks and believed that “the need to exist is greater than the fear of death.”