Police in South Africa have launched a manhunt for the killer of Muhsin Hendricks, the world’s first openly gay imam, who was murdered over the weekend.
Hendricks was shot dead in broad daylight while in his car in the coastal city of Gqeberha on Saturday.
CCTV footage of the incident showed an unknown person firing shots at Hendricks through the window.
Deputy Justice Minister Andries Nel told South African television channel Newzroom Afrika that it was too early to say whether the shooting was a hate crime, but he said the police were “hot on the heels of the suspects.”
Hendricks faced fierce criticism in the country – especially on social media – for his work that challenged traditional interpretations of Islam, which oppose same-sex relations.
Despite his stance, South Africa’s Muslim Judicial Council (MJC) condemned the killing.
“As members of a democratic, pluralistic society, the MJC remains steadfast in advocating for peaceful coexistence and mutual respect, even amidst divergent views,” it stated.
Another leading Muslim body, the United Ulama Council of South Africa, also condemned “extrajudicial killings” and urged the public not to jump to conclusions about the motive behind the attack.
Hendricks was credited by some as being the world’s first openly gay imam and helped Muslims reconcile their faith with their sexual orientation.
In 2018, he founded the Al-Ghurbaah Foundation, a nonprofit that provided support services for Muslims discriminated against for their sexual orientation.
The organisation worked to help Muslims around the world reconcile their faith with their sexual orientation and gender identity.
JN/APA