close
close

Who was Muhin Hendricks? The first openly gay imam in the world was shot in South Africa

Who was Muhin Hendricks? The first openly gay imam in the world was shot in South Africa

Who was Muhin Hendricks? The first openly gay imam in the world was shot in South Africa

Muhin HendricksThe first in the world openly gay imamwas shot down on Saturday when he was traveling in a car with another person South Africa.
According to the police, the unknown suspect with the covered face came out of a vehicle and began to shoot the Imam of the car was seated. Later, the driver noticed that Hendricks had been shot, reported ADP.
In a video, which is broadcast on the social media platform, the Imam’s car was blocked by another vehicle. While Hendrick’s car was trying to turn around after blocking, a man came out of the vehicle with his face covered and started to shoot several shots. After shooting, the striker left the crime scene with the vehicle.

The reports suggest that Hendricks was killed after having carried out a lesbian wedding ceremony, although this is not confirmed, BBC reported.

Who was muhsin hendricks

The 57 -year -old religious leader operated a mosque of the CAP which served as a refuge for gays and other marginalized Muslims.
South Africa was the pioneer of constitutional protection against the discrimination of sexual orientation and legalized homosexual marriage in 2006, becoming the African First Nation to do so.
Despite an active LGBT community, discrimination and violence persist, alongside one of the highest murder in the world.

Hendricks revealed his sexuality in 1996, causing an important upheaval in the Cape Muslim community. That year, he established the inner circle to support Queer Muslims before founding the inclusive mosque Masjidul Ghurbaah, according to BBC.
A documentary in 2022 entitled The Radical presented it by declaring threats received: “The need to be authentic was greater than the fear of dying.”
He has constantly promoted an interconfessional dialogue and has taken up mental health challenges faced by LGBTQ + individuals in religious circles.
At the ILGA World Conference last year in CAP, he said: “It is important that we stopped considering religion as the enemy.”

“Shock and devastated”

Julia Ehrt, who heads the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersexual Association (ILGA), urged the authorities to conduct an in -depth investigation into “what we fear may be a hate crime“.
“He has supported and supervised so many people in South Africa and in the world in their journey to reconcile with their faith, and his life testifies to the healing that solidarity through communities can bring everyone’s life,” said -Ali said.
Reverend Jide Macaulay, an openly gay Anglican minister, expressed his deep pain on the death of Hendricks.
The British-Nigerian activist, who directs the house of the rainbow supporting homosexuals in Nigeria where homosexual relations are the courage of Hendricks illegal and praised.
“Your leadership, your courage and your dedication unshakable to inclusive religious communities have left an indelible mark,” he said.

Sadiq Lawal, a gay Muslim in Nigeria, told the BBC that Hendricks had achieved the impossible appearance by declaring: “I am a queer imam.”
“He is a mentor for many queer Muslims in Africa, especially in Nigeria, because of religious extremism,” he said.
“I am always in shock and devastated.”