A man regarded as the first openly gay Muslim imam has been fatally shot while sitting in a car in South Africa in what many are calling an assassination because of his teachings.

The world's first openly gay imam in the Muslim faith was shot and killed in what local authorities say may be a hate crime.

Muhsin Hendricks was credited by some as being the world’s first openly gay imam and helped Muslims reconcile their faith with their sexual orientation.

Muhsin Hendricks, considered the world's first openly gay imam who was gunned down last weekend in South Africa, stood as a man who valued authenticity -- both in action and