It has been nine months since Imam Muhsin Hendricks was brutally assassinated on 15 February 2025 in Nelson Mandela Bay. Nine months of unanswered questions, sleepless nights, and aching hearts, and nine months of silence from the very institutions meant to ensure justice.
Imam Hendricks was more than a spiritual leader; he embodied the bridge between faith and freedom, a light for queer Muslims, and a scholar who championed the reconciliation of Islam with love, diversity, and justice. Through the Al-Ghurbaah Foundation, which he founded, he cultivated safe spaces where queer Muslims could pray, learn, and simply exist without fear.
His assassination shattered more than lives; it fractured the sense of safety that many queer Muslims had fought so hard to reclaim. To this day, neither SAPS nor the government has provided any public information or official update on the investigation into his murder.
The Weight of Silence
When asked how they feel about nine months without any public statement from SAPS, the Board of the Al-Ghurbaah Foundation doesn’t hesitate: “We feel lost. Angry. Sad. Fearful. Unheard. Devalued.”
Their words cut deep. “Everyone’s life matters, regardless of who they are or how they identify. Yet, in a country that claims to uphold safety and equality for all, there is an enormous gap between what is written in law and what is practised in reality.”
The continued silence, they say, reflects something darker. “It feels as though our deaths are being reduced to statistics, mere numbers on a database, rather than seen as human lives cut short by violence and prejudice. Instead of quantifying our deaths, the police should be honouring our humanity. Every person taken by hate leaves behind a community torn apart. Their names, their lives, and their stories deserve dignity and recognition, not silence and avoidance.”
Pleas to the Authorities Snubbed
On 11 October, the Foundation sent a respectful letter to SAPS requesting an update. The message was a heartfelt plea rooted in both faith and civic duty, emphasising that this case represents not only a criminal investigation but also a moral and constitutional challenge.
“What motivated us to write this letter is the complete lack of action regarding such a high-profile case, where the murder appears to have been driven by homophobia,” the Board explains.
“The saddest part is that Islam does not condone violence or the taking of another human life. In truth, Islam promotes the holistic well-being of all creation. This murder goes directly against the sacredness of preserving life.”
They continue: “It is vital that our community understands that Islam promotes life, not the removal of it. Everything that exists is sacred because Allah created each and every one of us with purpose and dignity. The act of murder, especially when done in the name of faith, violates not only our constitution but also the core essence of Islam itself. It is deeply un-Islamic and a grave human rights violation.”
Weeks passed. No reply. On 9 November, they wrote again. Again, no response.
For those who worked closely with Imam Muhsin, the silence has become unbearable. “We are still grieving, still trying to navigate the pain of his loss, and we desperately need closure. Without it, our healing and growth as a community are hindered. This lack of justice affects not only us but also the broader queer Muslim community, and ultimately, our entire society,” says the Foundation.
A Call From Civil Society
Sibonelo Trower Ncanana, in his capacity as an activist on behalf of OUT LGBT Well-being, voices deep concern about the lack of progress.
“While I am not speaking on behalf of the National Task Team, I can confirm that as a member of the Rapid Response Team we continue to monitor the matter very closely.”
He stresses the danger of allowing the lack of visible action to continue unchallenged. “This delay not only fails the victim and their family, it also sends a frightening message to the broader queer community that our lives do not carry equal weight in the eyes of the system.”
Ncanana adds: “OUT LGBT Well-being stands firmly against this culture of silence and inaction. We call for renewed urgency, transparency and cooperation from all authorities involved. Every life lost to hate deserves justice. Every community deserves safety.”
Living Under Threat
After Imam Muhsin Hendricks’s death, his Foundation has suffered eviction, ongoing security threats, and the loss of gathering spaces. Where there was once fellowship, fear now prevails.
At their first hybrid prayer session after his assassination, hackers infiltrated the gathering online and played a disturbing video of cats being slaughtered.
It was an explicit act of intimidation that was designed to deliver a terrifying message: “Don’t you dare pray!”
A Message to Power
To the Minister of Police, the Al-Ghurbaah Foundation Board speaks plainly: “I ask you to remember that silence is not neutrality. Silence is a position, one that echoes injustice.”
“We, as a community, are not asking for special treatment. We are asking for fairness, transparency, and accountability. We are asking you to uphold the values that this country stands for – justice, equality, and the protection of human life.”
Their plea grows urgent: “Please understand that your response, or lack thereof, speaks volumes to communities who already live in fear. We need to know that our safety matters, that our grief is seen, and that our pain is acknowledged. We need to believe that South Africa is still a country where justice can be found, even for those whose identities challenge societal norms.”
Carrying His Light
To those who loved Imam Muhsin Hendricks, the Board offers this: “Please know that his legacy continues to live within us. We carry his teachings in our actions, his warmth in our gatherings, and his unwavering belief in a compassionate Islam that welcomes everyone. We will continue to fight for justice. We will continue to build the inclusive, loving and compassion-centred community that he envisioned. And we will ensure that his name is not forgotten.”
What We Become
“Imam Muhsin’s life was a reminder that faith and humanity are not separate, they are intertwined. His murder was not only an attack on a person but on the very principles of peace and unity that he embodied,” the Board reflects.
Their final words ring clear: “We cannot claim to be a just nation if certain lives continue to be treated as less valuable. Justice delayed is justice denied. We call on every person, regardless of faith, gender, or identity, to stand with us. This is not just about one man; it is about what kind of society we want to build.”
Imam Muhsin Hendricks taught that love is the highest form of worship. His compassion went beyond the mosque to embrace the homeless, the heartbroken, and queer youth who felt abandoned by God. He reminded us that faith without justice is empty.
Nine months after his passing, the South African government, SAPS, and institutions of justice cannot let this case become just another forgotten file. They must demonstrate that South Africa values truth, accountability, and the dignity of every person, Muslim, queer, or otherwise, in both life and death.
We must not let fear or silence define us. Let us commit to compassion, truth, and justice for Imam Muhsin and for all those whose lives have been unjustly taken. Justice for Imam Muhsin Hendricks is justice for all. Until then, we continue to pray, hold our faith, and remain steadfast.
Sikhander Coopoo is a Black, queer, Muslim intersectional feminist and humxn rights defender. He serves with the Gender and Sexuality Alliance and writes in his personal capacity.
