Johannesburg, South Africa:
The South African police said that the Mukhi Hendric, who was first considered the world’s first open homosexual Imam, was shot dead on Saturday near the southern city of Gikebarha near the southern city. Police said that the Imam, who used to run a mosque as a safe shelter for homosexual and other marginalized Muslims, was in a car with another person when a vehicle stopped in front of them and blocked their exit Gave, the police said.
Eastern Cape Force said in a statement, “Two unidentified suspects with covered faces got out of the vehicle and started firing several shots on the vehicle.”
“He then ran away from the scene, and the driver noticed that the hendrick, who was sitting behind the vehicle, was shot and killed.”
A police spokesperson confirmed the authenticity of a video on social media, to show a target murder in Bethelsdorp near Gquerha, earlier known as Port Elizabeth.
Police said, “The purpose of the murder is unknown and part of the ongoing investigation,” the police said, urged anyone to come forward.
The International Gay, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intex Association condemned the murder. “Ilga World Family is in a deep shock at the news of the murder of Muhsin Hendrix, and asks the authorities to investigate a thorough investigation, what we are afraid of hatred crime may be,” Executive Director Julia Ahrt said in a statement .
Handric, including various LGBTQ advocacy groups, came out as gay in 1996. He ran an Al-Gambah mosque in Wynberg near his birthplace Cape Town.
The mosque “provides a safe place in which Muslims and marginalized women in the queue can practice Islam”.
The theme of a 2022 documentary called “The Radical” was earlier threatened against him.
But he insisted that “the need to be authentic” was “more than fear of dying”.
According to police data, South Africa has the world’s highest murder rate, with around 28,000 murders a year in February 2024.
(Tagstotransmit) South Africa (T) South African Imam (T) Gay
