The world’s first overtly homosexual Muslim imam, Muhsin Hendricks, was fatally shot in South Africa, sparking rumors of an alleged hate crime, CNN studies.
Investigators declare the 58-year-old non secular chief was discovered useless after he and a driver have been seen in a gold-colored VW TRoc. A silver-colored Hilux double cab allegedly stopped in entrance, limiting them from driving off. The motive behind the killing within the metropolis of Bethelsdorp remains to be unknown, however Japanese Cape provincial police launched an announcement saying, “Two unknown suspects with lined faces received out of the automobile and began firing a number of pictures on the automobile. Thereafter, they fled the scene, and the driving force observed that Hendricks, who was seated behind the automobile, was shot and killed,” the assertion continued.
LGBTQ+ advocates are fearful the killing was a hate act as Hendricks got here out because the world’s first overtly homosexual imam in 1996. His advocacy work resulted within the opening of the Al-Ghurbaah Basis in Cape City, which he based and served as government director. The human rights group offers assist to “Queer Muslims, serving to them to reconcile Islam with their Sexual orientation and Gender Identification.”
An outpouring of disbelief has are available in from plenty of advocacy teams aware of Hendricks’ work. A press release from the Worldwide Lesbian, Homosexual, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Affiliation (ILGA) stated they have been “in deep shock” over the information. “He supported and mentored so many individuals in South Africa and world wide of their journey to reconcile with their religion,” ILGA’s Government Director Julia Ehrt stated, in line with the Related Press.
The Muslim Judicial Council of South Africa additionally launched an announcement condemning Hendricks’ homicide, though they freely labeled his place as incompatible with Islamic teachings. “We unequivocally condemn his homicide and any acts of violence focusing on members of the LGBTQ group or another group,” the assertion learn.
Anti-LGBTQ+ practices are fluid all through plenty of African nations. Nations like Uganda, Ghana, and Kenya have handed legal guidelines making it unconstitutional to undergo what they deem as gay exercise. Some legal guidelines go so far as threatening dying.
ILGA highlighted statements from the sufferer the place he would declare some folks have been pushing for his mosque to shut because it was branded because the “homosexual temple.”
Hendricks was as soon as married to a girl after rising up in a conservative Muslim household. Nonetheless, after later popping out as homosexual, he closely advocated for the demographic to be included by his basis. “After I was wanting on the approach queer Muslims have been negotiating this dilemma between Islam and their sexual orientation and id, I felt compelled to do one thing about it,” the imam as soon as stated whereas explaining his beliefs.
“And I assumed, for me to assist would most likely be for me to be genuine with myself and are available out. I believe it’s attainable to be queer and Muslim or queer and Christian.”
As the topic of the 2022 documentary “The Radical,” Hendricks spoke in regards to the dying threats he endured whereas opening his mosque. “The should be genuine was better than the worry to die,” Hendricks stated within the movie.
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