Gqeberha: The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD) has condemned the brutal murder of Imam Muhsin Hendricks, who was gunned down on Saturday while attending a wedding in Gqeberha. Hendricks, a renowned Muslim scholar and advocate for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) rights, served numerous organizations championing equality within the Muslim faith.
According to South African Government News Agency, Hendricks became the first Imam in the world to come out as gay in 1996, resulting in his removal from his position. He was the founder of the Inner Circle, a global Muslim community advocating for a society free from discrimination based on religion, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Additionally, he established the LGBTQIA+-inclusive Masjidul Ghurbaah mosque, which practices no gender segregation.
Recently, Hendricks led the Al-Ghurbaah Foundation, providing psycho-spiritual and social support to Muslims marginalized due to sexual orientation, gender identity, and belief. Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Deputy Minister, Mmapaseka Steve Letsike, stated that Hendricks’s murder is a stark reminder of the discrimination and hate crimes that the LGBTQIA+ community in South Africa continues to face, despite the nation’s progressive legislation, such as the Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Act (2023).
Letsike also reflected on Hendricks’s courage in advancing the fight for LGBTQIA+ rights within the Muslim faith, recalling his words: “The need to be authentic was greater than the fear to die.” She emphasized that this brutal murder is not just about Imam Hendricks but a direct assault on all movements, organizations, and individuals advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights in South Africa. Letsike called on the South African Police Services and all law enforcement agencies to strengthen their investigation and ensure that justice prevails.