A man hailed as the world’s first imam to say he was gay was shot dead in South Africa on Saturday, local police said, in what rights groups fear could be a hate crime.

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.

Police in South Africa are investigating the death of Muhsin Hendricks. Recognised as the world's first openly gay imam, Hendricks was shot dead Saturday in the southern city of Gqeberha, in what