Muhsin Hendricks
Muhsin Hendricks | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 1967 Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa |
| Died | 15 February 2025 (aged 57) Bethelsdorp, Eastern Cape, South Africa |
| Cause of death | Murder |
| Education | Bachelor's degree in Classical Arabic and Islamic sciences[1] |
| Alma mater | University of Islamic Studies, Karachi, Pakistan[1] |
| Occupation | Imam |
| Children | 3 |
| Ecclesiastical career | |
| Religion | Islam |
Muhsin Hendricks (June 1967 – 15 February 2025) was a South African imam, Islamic scholar and LGBTQ activist. He was involved in many LGBTQ Muslim activism groups. He was a supporter of greater acceptance of LGBTQ people within Islam. He was seen as the world's first openly gay imam, having come out in 1996.[2]
Career
[change | change source]In 1996, Hendricks founded the Inner Circle, a support network helping[3] gay Muslims to support their sexual orientation.[4] They were founded in response to LGBTQ Muslims who felt excluded from mosques during Friday prayers.[5] Hendricks took part in prayers, counselling and Muslim same-sex marriage ceremonies. Inner Circle was later known as Al-Fitrah Foundation.[6]
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Hendricks began posting TikToks with positive messages about love. Hendricks appeared in the 2007 documentary movie A Jihad for Love. In 2022, he was the subject of The Radical, a German documentary movie.[7]
Personal life
[change | change source]He married a woman in 1991, and had children with her before they divorced in 1996: later that year he came out as gay.[8] He married a Hindu man in 2006.[9]
Assassination
[change | change source]Hendricks was killed after being shot on 15 February 2025 in Bethelsdorp, South Africa at the age of 57.[2] The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) criticised Hendricks's killing and called on authorities to investigate the death.[2] Initial reports claimed that he was murdered after reportedly officiating a lesbian wedding in Gqeberha.[2][10]
References
[change | change source]- 1 2 Wanyonyi, Lola (8 August 2021). "Gay Imam in South Africa is happily married". Orato. Archived from the original on 22 February 2025. Retrieved 22 February 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 "Muhsin Hendricks, world's 'first openly gay imam', shot dead in South Africa". The Guardian. 16 February 2025. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
- ↑ Sanderson, Sertan (31 October 2016). "Gay imam starts quiet revolution in Islam". DW. AFP. Archived from the original on 25 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ↑ "A gay mosque in Cape Town sounds the call to prayer for everyone". Quartz. 2 November 2016. Archived from the original on 25 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ↑ Hendricks, Imam Muhsin; Krondorfer, Björn (2011). "Diversity of sexuality in Islam: Interview with Imam Muhsin Hendricks". CrossCurrents. 61 (4): 496–501. ISSN 0011-1953. JSTOR 24461906. Archived from the original on 17 December 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
- ↑ Lazareva, Inna (5 February 2019). "'Space to coexist': Inside South Africa's LGBT-friendly mosque". Reuters. Archived from the original on 25 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ↑ "The Radical". Human Rights Film Festival Berlin. 2022. Archived from the original on 25 January 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
- ↑ Fullerton, Jamie (19 October 2022). "'I'm hoping there will be more queer imams'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 25 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ↑ Sengar, Shweta (29 May 2017). "A Gay Imam With Hindu Partner Runs An LGBT-Friendly Mosque In South Africa. This Is His Story". IndiaTimes. Archived from the original on 25 January 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
- ↑ "Muhsin Hendricks: World's 'first openly gay imam' shot dead in South Africa". www.bbc.com. 16 February 2025. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
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