Gay Imam shot dead in South Africa after officiating Lesbian wedding

South Africa has seen the murder of Muhsin Hendricks, an Islamic cleric who became the first openly gay imam in history.

The 57-year-old Hendricks established and oversaw a mosque in Cape Town that provided refuge to marginalized Muslims, including members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Tragically, he was shot dead on Saturday morning when the car he was riding in was ambushed close to the southern city of Gqeberha.

He reportedly conducted a gay wedding just before the deadly incident.

A terrifying description of the attack can be found on security footage that is making the rounds on social media. In the video, Hendricks' car is seen pulling away from the curb and being purposefully blocked by a car.

Security footage circulating on social media provides a chilling account of the attack. The video shows a car intentionally blocking the vehicle Hendricks was in as it pulled away from the kerb.

According to police reports, Hendricks was seated in the back seat before an assailant exited the blocking car, rushed to the targeted vehicle, and fired multiple shots through the rear passenger window.

“Two unknown suspects with covered faces got out of the vehicle and started firing multiple shots at the vehicle,” police said in a statement.

The news of Hendricks’ passing has reverberated deeply within the LGBTQ+ community and beyond, sparking a global wave of heartfelt tributes.

The deceased made headlines in 1996 after he publicly came out as gay, a disclosure that sent shockwaves through the broader Muslim community in Cape Town and beyond.

In 1996, the deceased made news when he came out as gay in public, shocking the larger Muslim community in Cape Town and abroad.

He established The Inner Circle, an organization devoted to providing assistance for LGBT+ Muslims, in the same year.

Hendricks continued his mission of inclusivity and acceptance by founding the inclusive mosque known as Masjidul Ghurbaah.