South Africa’s openly gay imam shot dead in ambush

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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.