The Hate You Give: On Being Queer And Muslim In Cape Town
When I heard about Imam Muhsin Hendrickss killing in Gqeberha, I knew it wasnt random. It was an expression of the hate and violence queer Muslims face every day, social justice activist Zackie Achmat writes.
Social media has only fuelled that violence, creating global communities of hate on every continent with support from fundamentalists in every religious community, he says.
For Achmat, it started in his primary school where he was seriously assaulted daily by other boys, made to feel like he didnt belong.
Its now been 30 years since religious leaders have prohibited his family from contacting me because, he says, I am an atheist and queer.
In todays newsletter , Mia Malan explains why discrimination kills and acceptance does the opposite. Sign up for our newsletter today.
When I heard about Imam Muhsin Hendrickss killing in Gqeberha, it was like a punch to my brain. Though my encounters with Muhsin over the years had been distant Im an atheist and he was a believer news of his death crashed into me like a truck. I felt a boiling up of anger and immense sadness that finally exploded into rage.
His murder, in my opinion, wasnt random. We still dont know the exact details, but I believe it was an execution, not a hijacking or a robbery. Muhsins killing is the ultimate expression of the violence that queer Muslims face every day. Social media has only fuelled that violence, creating global communities of hate on every continent with support from fundamentalists in every religious community. These communities of hate applaud autocrats like Donald Trump and his all out assault on the LGBTQI community, particularly trans people.
I know the hate and isolation it breeds intimately. Its been 30 years since members of the Muslim Judicial Council have prohibited my family from contacting me because I am an atheist and queer.
But the discrimination based on my sexuality started way before this in school.