A South African gay Imam shot dead after performing Lesbian Wedding

Muhsin Hendricks, widely recognized as the world’s first openly gay imam, was fatally shot in South Africa on Saturday near the southern city of Gqeberha. The 57-year-old cleric, who led a Cape Town mosque known for its inclusive stance toward LGBTQ+ and marginalized Muslims, was ambushed while riding as a backseat passenger.

South African police reported that two masked gunmen fired multiple shots at his vehicle. Security footage circulating on social media captured the moment when a car blocked Hendricks’ vehicle, prompting an assailant to leap out and repeatedly shoot through the back window. “Two unknown suspects with covered faces exited a vehicle and began firing multiple shots,” police stated.

The Al-Ghurbaah Foundation, which manages the Masjidul Ghurbaah mosque in Cape Town’s Wynberg suburb, confirmed his death, describing it as a targeted attack. Board chair Abdulmugheeth Petersen, speaking to the BBC, urged the public to respect the family’s privacy during this difficult time.

While some reports suggest that Hendricks was killed after officiating a lesbian wedding, this detail has not been verified by authorities. The tragic incident has elicited an outpouring of tributes from the LGBTQ+ community. Julia Ehrt, executive director of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, expressed her grief and called for a comprehensive investigation into what she described as a potential hate crime.