World 'first openly gay imam' shot dead for South Africa

Two unknown gunmen shoot and kill Muhsin Hendricks, pioneer wey dem call di world first openly gay imam, for South Africa.

Di 57-year-old cleric bin dey run one mosque for Cape Town wit intention to provide safe space for gay plus oda marginalised Muslims.

Na on Saturday morning dem kill am afta dem ambush di car wey im bin dey travel inside near di southern city of Gqeberha.

"Two unknown suspects wey cover face bin come out of di car and begin fire plenty shots on di vehicle," police tok for one statement.

News of Hendricks death shock di LGBTQ+ community and beyond, causing plenty tribute from across di world.

Julia Ehrt, executive director for International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA), call on authorities make dem thoroughly investigate "wetin we fear say fit be hate crime".

"Im bin support and mentor so many pipo for South Africa and around di world for dia journey to reconcile wit dia faith, and im life na testament to di healing wey di solidarity across communities fir bring for everyone life," she say.

Tori be say dem kill Hendricks afta im officiate one lesbian wedding, though no official confirmation yet.

Details of di attack bin come out through security videos wey dem bin share on social media.

E show as one car drive, stop in front of, and block di car wey Hendricks bin dey travel inside, as e bin dey drive come from wia e park.

According to police, di imam bin sidon for back seat.

Di angle of di CCTV video reveal wetin bin happun from one side of di road - one attacker jump out of one car, run to di ambushed motor and shoot plenty times through di back passenger window.

Hendricks Al-Ghurbaah Foundation, wey dey run di Masjidul Ghurbaah mosque for di Wynberg suburb of Cape Town, confam say im die for di targeted attack on Saturday morning.

But Abdulmugheeth Petersen, chair of di foundation board, bin don beg dia followers through one WhatsApp group say make dem dey patient, stressing di importance of protecting Hendricks family.

Hendricks work challenge di traditional interpretations of Islam and champion compassionate, inclusive faith.

South Africa post-apartheid constitution na di first for world to protect pipo from discrimination becos of dia sexual orientation and for 2006. na di first kontri for Africa to legalise same-sex marriage.

But even wit im prosperous LGBT community, gay pipo dey still face discrimination and violence.

Di kontri also get one of di highest murder rates for world even outside di gay community.

Hendricks come out as gay for 1996, wey shock di wider Muslim community for Cape Town and elsewhere.

Dat same year, im bin establish The Inner Circle, organisation wey dey provide support and safe space for gay Muslims wey dey try to reconcile dia faith and sexuality bifor im establish di inclusive Masjidul Ghurbaah mosque.

Dem bin do one documentary about am for 2022 wey dem call The Radical, wia im bin tok about di threats wey im bin dey face: "Di need to dey authentic bin dey greater dan di fear to die."

Hendricks bin dey tok most time abut di importance of interfaith dialogue and di need to address di mental health issues and trauma wey LGBTQ+ individuals dey face within religious communities.

Im tell Ilga World Conference for Cape Town last year: "E dey important make we stop to dey look religion as di enemy."

Reverend Jide Macaulay, wey be openly gay Anglican priest, describe Hendricks death as "truly heart-breaking".

Di British-Nigerian LGBTQ rights activist dey run House of Rainbow, one organisation wey dey provide support for gay pipo for Nigeria wia same-sex relationships or public display of affection dey illegal, and im pay tribute to Hendrick bravery.

"Your leadership, courage, and unwavering dedication to inclusive faith communities don leave mark wey no one fit remove," im tok.

Sadiq Lawal wey, gay Muslim man wey dey live for Nigeria, tell BBC say Hendricks make serious impact as im bin make "di impossible possible" by saying di words: "I be gay imam".

"Im be mentor to many gay Muslims for Africa, especially for Nigeria, sake of religious extremism," im tok.

"I still dey in shock and devastated."