A South African imam, Muhsin Hendricks, who dedicated his life to advocating for gay rights and tolerance for L.G.B.T.Q. Muslims, was shot and killed in Gqeberha on Saturday, according to police reports.
Hendricks was recognized by some as the world’s first openly gay imam. In 2018, he established the Al-Ghurbaah Foundation, a nonprofit organization aimed at supporting Muslims facing discrimination due to their sexual orientation.
The foundation focused on helping Muslims across the globe reconcile their faith with their sexual orientation and gender identity.
The South African Human Rights Commission issued a statement condemning the murder, referencing social media footage of a hooded individual who fired shots into a vehicle before fleeing the scene. This video has not been independently verified.
Deputy Justice Minister Andries Nel stated that it is premature to determine if the shooting was a hate crime, but assured that police were actively pursuing the suspects.
Hendricks faced significant backlash in the country, particularly on social media platforms.
In an interview with a South African digital channel, Mr. Nel noted that while debates about gay rights exist among Muslims in South Africa, there is a consensus recognizing the importance of the country’s constitutional protections.
He stated, “They have been unambiguous in reaffirming the values of our Constitution, the values of tolerance of plurality and of human respect.”
Hendricks was a well-known advocate for gay rights in South Africa, which became the first African nation to decriminalize homosexuality in 1998, following a ruling by the Johannesburg High Court.
A 2021 survey by Afrobarometer ranked South Africa as the second-most tolerant country on the continent regarding same-sex relationships, following Cabo Verde.
The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association expressed deep shock over Hendricks’s death, highlighting his role as a mentor for individuals reconciling their faith and identity. Julia Ehrt, the group’s executive director, described him as a symbol of the healing that can arise from solidarity across diverse communities.
South Africa is often viewed as an outlier on the African continent concerning gay rights, with over 30 of the continent’s 54 countries criminalizing same-sex relationships. Furthermore, at least six countries, including Ghana and Uganda, have enacted or initiated stricter anti-gay legislation in recent years.