Malikah Shabazz, a daughter of Malcolm X, has been found dead just days after two men were exonerated for the murder of her much revered father.
Shabazz, 56, was discovered by her daughter inside their New York home on Monday afternoon. The police said the death does not appear suspicious.
Just last week, a court exonerated two men — Muhammad Aziz and Khalil Islam — who had been convicted of Malcolm X’s death.
During his pilgrimage to Mecca in 1964, Malcolm X embraced Sunni Islam and adopted the name Malik el-Shabazz.
Malikah Shabazz
Malikah is one of Malcolm X and his wife Betty Shabazz’s six children. Malikah has a twin sister Malaak — both never met their father as they were born seven months after his assassination in 1965.
The daughter of fellow civil rights icon, Martin Luther King Jr., sent her condolences on social media.
“I’m deeply saddened by the death of #MalikahShabazz,” tweeted Bernice King. “My heart goes out to her family, the descendants of Dr. Betty Shabazz and Malcolm X. Dr. Shabazz was pregnant with Malikah and her twin sister, Malaak, when Brother Malcolm was assassinated. Be at peace, Malikah.”
Imam Omar Suleiman tweeted: “Malikah was in the womb of her mother Betty when Malcolm was gunned down in front of his family. She never got to hug him here. I pray he will be waiting to embrace her there. May Allah have mercy on them and make it easy for her remaining family in earth.”
Malcolm X’s assassination
Malcolm X was shot dead at a New York City ballroom in front of his family at the age of 39.
Three men were arrested and convicted; Muhammad Aziz, Khalil Islam, who died in 2009, and Thomas Hagan, who later changed his name to Mujahid Halim. Halim is the only person who has ever confessed to the shooting.
In court last Thursday, the judge overturned the convictions against Aziz and Islam, ruling that the evidence held back by investigators at the time would have led to an acquittal.
Another of Malcolm X’s daughters, Ilyasah Shabazz, supported the decision but called for a new trial to bring the true killers of her father to justice.
