Muhsin Hendricks, a highly controversial self-proclaimed imam in South Africa, has been shot dead. According to police reports, he was shot yesterday, Saturday (February 15), in the southern city of Gqeberha. Muhsin Hendricks identified himself as ‘the world’s first openly gay imam.’
He led prayers at a so-called mosque, which he claimed was a safe space for LGBTQ+ Muslims and people from different communities.
Police reported that Muhsin Hendricks was traveling in a car when his vehicle was stopped by a roadblock. At that moment, he was shot at. His driver was also in the car at the time.
In a statement, police said, “Two unidentified individuals, their faces covered, stepped out of a car. They fired multiple shots at Muhsin’s vehicle before fleeing the scene. Muhsin was sitting in the back seat. His driver then realized he had been shot and killed.”
A video of the incident has gone viral on social media. A police spokesperson confirmed the authenticity of the video to the AFP news agency.
Muhsin came out as gay in 1996. He served as an imam at a so-called mosque in Wynberg, Cape Town, where he was born.