World's first gay imam shot dead

The world's first openly gay imam, Muhsin Hendriks, has been shot dead in South Africa, the BBC reported.

The 57-year-old imam led a mosque in Cape Town that catered to gays and other marginalised Muslims. He was ambushed and killed while driving in the early hours of February 15. "Two unidentified suspects, wearing masks, got out of their vehicles and opened fire on his vehicle," a police statement said. News of Hendriks' death has shocked the LGBTQ+ community and beyond.

ILGA executive director Julia Ehrt called on the government to thoroughly investigate what "may have been a hate crime."

"He supported and guided countless people in South Africa and around the world to come to terms with their faith. His life was a testament to the healing power of community solidarity," she said.

Hendriks was reportedly killed after attending a lesbian wedding, but this has not been officially confirmed.

Details of the attack emerged after surveillance footage was shared on social media.

According to the footage, Hendriks was seen pulling off the side of the road when another car cut him off. Police said Hendriks was in the back seat at the time. The camera angle shows the attacker getting out of his car, running towards the ambush site and firing through the rear passenger window.

Sadiq Lawal, a gay Muslim living in Nigeria, told the BBC that Hendriks had made a huge contribution by saying "I am a queer imam" and "making the impossible possible".

"He was a mentor to many queer imams in Africa, especially in Nigeria, because of religious extremism," he said.

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