Muhsin Hendricks, widely recognized as the world’s first openly gay imam, has been tragically shot dead near Gqeberha, South Africa, according to local police. Hendricks, who founded a mosque dedicated to providing a safe haven for LGBTQ+ and other marginalized Muslims, was in a car with another individual on Saturday when their vehicle was ambushed. According to authorities, an unidentified vehicle stopped in front of them, blocking their path.

The Eastern Cape police force said in a statement: “Two unknown suspects with covered faces exited the vehicle and fired multiple shots at Hendricks' car. They then fled the scene. The driver later discovered that Hendricks, seated in the back, had been fatally shot.” A police spokesperson confirmed the authenticity of a video circulating on social media, reportedly depicting the targeted killing in Bethelsdorp, near Gqeberha, formerly known as Port Elizabeth.

The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex Association (ILGA) strongly condemned the killing. “The ILGA World family is in deep shock at the news of Muhsin Hendricks’ murder and calls on authorities to thoroughly investigate what we fear may be a hate crime,” said ILGA’s executive director, Julia Ehrt, in a statement. Hendricks had long been a prominent LGBTQ+ advocate. After coming out as gay in 1996, he began hosting meetings in his home city for LGBTQ+ Muslims, who regarded him as their imam.

His role as an imam grew in 2011 when he established a mosque after a friend experienced a sermon condemning homosexuality. Hendricks led the Al-Ghurbaah mosque in Wynberg, near Cape Town, which, according to its website, offers “a safe space in which queer Muslims and marginalized women can practice Islam.” He was also the subject of the 2022 documentary The Radical, in which he spoke about threats he had received. He had been advised to hire bodyguards but refused to live in fear.

Born into a Muslim family, Hendricks initially married a woman and had children before coming out at the age of 29—eight years after his father’s passing. He had previously worked as an Arabic language teacher and fashion designer. Police are urging anyone with relevant information to come forward and an investigation is ongoing.