Muhsin Hendricks, the first imam openly to admit he was a part of the LGBTQ+ community, was killed in South Africa. A 57-year-old man in Cape Town, Hendricks was an imam at a mosque who worked with LGBTQ+ Muslims to reach reconciliation between their faith and their sexual identity. His killing on Saturday morning caused great uproar and flooding of condolences from the global LGBTQ+ community and other people.
Hendricks has become quite a household name in the advocacy and the advocacy for LGBTQ+ survival in the Muslim community. He founded The Inner Circle and Masjidul Ghurbaah mosque where he campaigned for safe spaces for LGBT Muslims. An imam by profession, he boldly stated that he was a man loving other men, a shocking revelation to the Muslim community in Cape Town.
Hendricks’s murder received varying responses; courage and activism from some and condemnation of his ideas from others. The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) said his killing should be investigated thoroughly because it did not rule out its potential hate crime.
Hendricks-somber for his heroic stand and efforts toward LGBTQ+ rights within faith communities-also campaigned against intolerance in religion, bigotry, and extremism. His death is the focus and spotlight on the continuous struggle faced by persons reconciliating sexual orientation, faith, and religion with some communities.