An openly gay South African imam has set up a mosque in Cape Town as a “calm and open place” for LGBT Muslims to worship together.

In 1996, Muhsin Hendricks founded The Inner Circle, a support group for LGBT Muslims living in Cape Town who felt rejected due to their sexual orientation. This led him to set up his mosque five years ago.

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Although South Africa’s constitution provides protections for LGBT people and allows for same-sex marriage, gay people are often subject to discrimination and violence. Imam Pandy, leader of a mosque in Mowbray, told AFP: “Homosexuality is unacceptable and the punishment will be the fire. How can you be homosexual? It is forbidden. And it is your duty as an imam or as a Muslim to go and speak to them and say ‘no, it cannot be.’”

Nonetheless, Hendricks’ mosque now has about 25 regular worshipers and even offers a marriage blessing to gay couples.

In an interview with News24, Hendricks said:

“I got divorced at the age of 29 after being married [to a woman] for six years.

“That was the point where I just felt – no more double life. I needed to be authentic with myself, and part of that process was to come out.

“This is who I am and if that means I am going to be killed because of my authenticity, then that is how I choose to meet God.”

Inner Circle worshiper Zaid Philander added:

“There are a lot of lives being destroyed based on sexuality and religion, and that needs to change. Here they are the pioneers of this change, and this is a good place to start.

“I choose to be in a place where I can have a healthy relationship with God, and the Inner Circle gives me the freedom to be the person I am.”

Hendricks, who travels the world to spread his message to other gay Muslims, said he is hoping to “arrive at a point where we can include queer people” and the Muslim community is not seen as the enemy.

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