Gay imam who performed same-sex marriages in South Africa murdered in suspected hate crime
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Imam Muhsin "Hendricks, 57, led a mosque in Cape Town that served as a space for LGBT Muslims."
A South African imam known advocating LGBTQ+ inclusion within Islam was shot and killed in what some suspect to be a hate crime. The imam had performed same sex marriages and was reportedly the world’s first openly gay imam...
According to the BBC, local police said, “Two unknown suspects with covered faces got out of the vehicle and started firing multiple shots at the vehicle.”
The Muslim Judicial Council condemned the killing, stating, “While police are still investigating the motive, speculation suggests it may be linked to Hendricks’ views on same-sex relationships.” The organization emphasized that “the sanctity of human life is a fundamental tenet of Islam” and denounced violence against any community.
Executive director at the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association Julia Ehrt is calling on authorities to investigate "what we fear may be a hate crime."
Tragic.
thoughts & prayers
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What was perhaps even more shocking than the murder itself was seeing the reactions from Muslims on X... Overwhelming cheers & praise, condemnations of the victim as a traitor and wishing he will burn in their version of hell.
Video of the attack (content warning)
Very sad but unfortunately entirely predictable.