South Africa’s openly gay imam shot dead in ambush

Bangkok Post Group

Muhsin Hendricks, known as the world's first openly gay imam, was shot dead in South Africa on Saturday (February 15) morning, according to local police. - REUTERS

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00:00Mohsin Hendrix, said to be the world's first openly gay imam, was shot dead in South Africa

00:06on Saturday, according to local police.

00:09The 57-year-old cleric gained international recognition for challenging traditional interpretations

00:15of Islam and championing an inclusive faith.

00:18He ran a mosque in Cape Town for marginalized Muslims.

00:22Authorities reported that two unidentified assailants with covered faces fired multiple

00:27shots at the vehicle Hendrix was traveling in.

00:30The attack has sent shockwaves through the LGBTQ plus community and beyond, prompting

00:35calls for an investigation into the potential hate crime.

00:39Human rights activist Shoki Wafula Silas, originally from Uganda, is feeling the loss

00:44personally.

00:45He was teaching people, his teachings about faith, spiritual development of a human being,

00:50understanding your faith.

00:51That's why when you would go to the mosque, you find Christians in the mosque, find Muslims,

00:57you find people who don't belong to any community, but I was teaching them faith.

01:01Despite South Africa's progressive constitution protecting LGBTQ plus rights, the country

01:07still faces high rates of discrimination and violence against the community.

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