South Africa has been rocked by the shocking assassination of Muhsin Hendricks, widely recognized as the world’s first openly gay imam and a pioneering voice for LGBTQ+ Muslims. Hendricks, 57, was gunned down in a brazen attack on Saturday morning near Gqeberha, sending shockwaves through human rights circles and religious communities worldwide.
Hendricks, founder of the Al-Ghurbaah Foundation and leader of Masjidul Ghurbaah in Cape Town—a sanctuary for marginalized Muslims—was ambushed in what many fear was a targeted hate crime.
According to South African police, two masked assailants emerged from a vehicle and unleashed a hail of bullets on Hendricks’ car. Surveillance footage circulating on social media captures the chilling moment: a vehicle swerves to block Hendricks’ path, an attacker jumps out, and, without hesitation, fires multiple rounds through the back passenger window—where Hendricks was seated—before fleeing the scene.
His tragic murder has ignited an outpouring of grief and outrage.
Hendricks’ life was marked by an unyielding fight for inclusivity within Islam. Coming out as gay in 1996, he challenged deeply entrenched religious interpretations, offering queer Muslims a path to reconcile their faith with their identity. Through The Inner Circle, an organization he founded before establishing Masjidul Ghurbaah, he mentored and counseled those struggling with religious condemnation and societal rejection.
“He supported and mentored so many people in South Africa and beyond,” said Julia Ehrt, executive director of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex Association (ILGA). “His life was a testament to the healing that solidarity can bring.”
While reports suggest Hendricks was murdered shortly after officiating a lesbian wedding, authorities have yet to confirm the link. However, many fear that his killing is part of a larger pattern of violence against the LGBTQ+ community in South Africa.
Despite being the first country in the world to constitutionally protect LGBTQ+ rights and legalize same-sex marriage in 2006, South Africa continues to battle rampant homophobic violence. The nation also struggles with one of the highest murder rates globally, raising concerns about security and justice.
Ehrt has urged South African authorities to ensure a “full and transparent investigation” into what appears to be a premeditated execution.
Hendricks was no stranger to threats. In the 2022 documentary The Radical, he spoke candidly about the dangers of his activism, saying, “The need to be authentic was greater than the fear to die.”
His impact extended beyond religious spaces—he was a champion of mental health awareness for LGBTQ+ individuals, an advocate for interfaith dialogue, and a beacon of hope for those caught between faith and identity.
Mourning a Trailblazer
The Al-Ghurbaah Foundation, confirming his death, called it “a tragic and targeted attack,” while its board chair, Abdulmugheeth Petersen, urged patience and respect for Hendricks’ grieving family.
As the world mourns the loss of a fearless trailblazer, the demand for justice grows louder. Hendricks’ legacy of defiance, faith, and unwavering advocacy will remain a guiding light for those he fought for.
The question now is—will his killers be brought to justice?
PIONEER NEWS 