World’s ‘first openly gay imam’ shot dead in South Africa happymamay

Mohsin Hendricks, a leading figure called the first gay imam in the world, was shot in South Africa.

The 57 -year -old cleric was running a mosque in Cape Town, intended as a safe haven for gay and other marginalized Muslims. He was killed on Saturday morning after the car he was traveling near near the southern city of GQEBerha.

“Two of the unknown suspects came out of the faces covered by the car and started launching multiple shots on the car,” the police said in a statement.

The news of the death of Hindrix was sent shock waves through the LGBTQ+ community, which prompted the flow of gene from all over the world.

Julia Ert, Executive Director of the International Association for Literllies, Gay, Zohdom, and inherited from the bisexual (LLGA), called on the authorities to the comprehensive investigation “We are not afraid to be a hate crime.”

She said: “He has supported and directed many people in South Africa and around the world on their journey to reconcile with their faith, and his life was a testimony for a recovery in which societies can bring all societies the lives of everyone.”

Hendricks was killed after he clarified it at a lesbian wedding, although this was not officially confirmed.

Details of the attack appeared through security footage that were shared on social media.

It shows a car withdrawing and preventing the car in which hendricks was traveling while withdrawing from the sidewalk. According to the police, the imam was in the back seat.

The CCTV shot angle detects what happened from one side of the road – a striker jumping from a car, running to the granted car and shooting frequently through the rear passenger window.

The Hindrix Al -Gurgor Foundation, which runs the Gorba Mosque in the Winberg suburb in Cape Town, confirmed that he died in a targeted attack on Saturday morning.

But Abdel Malade Petson, Chairman of the Foundation, appealed, through a group of its followers, to be patient, stressing the importance of protecting the Hendrix family.

The work of Hendrix challenged the traditional interpretations of Islam and defended a compassionate and comprehensive faith.

The post -Apartheid Constitution was the first in the world to protect people from discrimination due to their sexual inclinations and in 2006, it became the first country in Africa to consolidate marriage of the same sex.

But despite the booming gay community, gay are still facing discrimination and violence. The country also has one of the highest killings in the world.

Hendricks came out as gay in 1996, shocking the broader Islamic community in Cape Town and other places.

In the same year, The Inner Circle, an organization that provides support and a safe space for strange Muslims who seek to reconcile their faith and sex before continuing to establish the comprehensive Ghurba mosque mosque.

It was the subject of a documentary in 2022 called The Radical, in which he said about the threats he faced: “The need to be an authentic is greater than fear of death.”

Hendricks often talks about the importance of interfaith dialogue and the need to address mental health issues and shocks faced by LGBTQ+ members within religious societies.

“It is important to stop looking at religion as an enemy,” he told the ILGA World Conference in Cape Town last year.

Reverend Jaid Makulai, a gay Minister of Anglican, described Hindrix’s death as “truly tragic”.

House of Rainbow, an organization of support for gay people in Nigeria where the relations between gay or general offers of affection are illegal, and praises Hindorx.

“Your leadership, courage and fixed dedication to comprehensive religious societies may have left an indelible sign,” he said.

Sadiq Lawy, a gay Muslim man who lives in Nigeria, BBC, Hindrix has caused this effect because he made the “impossible possible” by saying words: “I am a strange imam.”

“It is a teacher of many strange Muslims in Africa, especially in Nigeria, due to religious extremism,” he said.

“I am still shocking and destroyed.”