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US: Daughter of Malcolm X to sue CIA, FBI and NYC police for $100m

Ilyasah Shabazz filed notices on the 58th anniversary of the assassination of Malcolm X
Ilyasah Shabazz speaks during a press conference at the Malcolm X & Dr Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center in New York City, on 21 February 2023 (AFP)

The daughter of civil rights leader Malcolm X has filed notices that she intends to sue US government agencies including the FBI, CIA and the New York Police department over the death of her father.

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The announcement came on Tuesday, the 58th anniversary of the assassination of Malcolm X. His daughter, Ilyasah Shabazz, accused federal and government agencies of fraudulently concealing evidence that they "conspired to and executed their plan to assassinate Malcolm X".

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"For years, our family has fought for the truth to come to light concerning his murder," Shabazz said at a news conference in New York City.

Shabazz is seeking $100m in damages. Her attorney Ben Crump said he intends to take depositions from various government officials.

"It's not just about the trigger men, it's about those who conspired with the trigger men to do this dastardly deed," Crump said at the news conference.

Malcolm X, also known as El Hajj Malik el-Shabazz, was born Malcolm Little in 1925. In 1946, he was imprisoned for robbery. In prison, he was introduced to the Nation of Islam (NOI), a radical Black Muslim movement, and became influenced by the teachings of its leader, Elijah Muhammad. 1n 1964, Malcolm X left the Nation of Islam.

He was assassinated at the age of 39 on 21 February 1965 by three men who opened fire on him while speaking at the Audobon Ballroom in New York City.

In 2022, New York City agreed to pay $26m to the two men wrongly convicted and imprisoned for the murder of Malcolm X. The state of New York agreed to pay an additional $10m in lawsuits filed by them. 

Muhammad Aziz and Khalil Islam both maintained they did not assassinate civil rights leader Malcolm X while in prison for over twenty years. Islam died in 2009.

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