Murder of Islamic scholar, gay activist Muhsin Hendricks condemned
Hendricks, believed to be the world's first openly gay imam, was shot in a suspected hit in Gqeberha over the weekend.
FILE: Islamic scholar and queer activist, Muhsin Hendricks. Picture: Al-Ghurbaah Foundation/Facebook
CAPE TOWN - The murder of Islamic scholar and gay activist, Muhsin Hendricks, has sent shockwaves through the country.
Hendricks, believed to be the world's first openly gay imam, was shot in a suspected hit in Gqeberha over the weekend.
Police are hunting his killers.
Hendricks was ambushed by a gun-wielding attacker while sitting in a car.
CCTV footage shows a hooded gunman firing at him multiple times, before fleeing the scene.
It's believed that Hendricks was in Gqeberha to officiate at a wedding.
While police say the motive for his killing is not yet known, the Claremont Main Road Mosque has described it as a tragic, cowardly, and merciless targeted assassination of a Muslim leader within the LGBTQI+ community.
Meanwhile, the Muslim Judicial Council (MJC) has also expressed shock and has called on police to conduct a thorough, impartial investigation, ensuring that the perpetrators are held accountable.
The MJC said while it had consistently maintained that the deceased's position was incompatible with Islamic teachings, it condemned Hendricks' murder and any acts of violence targeting members of the LGBTQI+ community or any other community.
The MJC's Muhammed West: "Mr Hendricks lived all his life in Cape Town, his centre is in Wynberg and even though we had many robust discussions and serious differences on this issue, there's never been an incitement to violence, there's never been intimidation against him and this is why, from the MJC's side at least, we condemn this act of violence."