NYC to pay huge settlement to men wrongly convicted in Malcolm X's murder

New York, New York - Two men who were exonerated for the murder of prominent civil rights figure Malcolm X have sued New York City, and a settlement has finally been reached.

Civil rights leaders Malcolm X (r.) and Martin Luther King, Jr. (c.) in March 1964.
Civil rights leaders Malcolm X (r.) and Martin Luther King, Jr. (c.) in March 1964.  © MARION S.TRIKOSKO / THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS / AFP

Charges against Muhammad A. Aziz and Khalil Islam were thrown out last November, and after fighting in court for restitution for almost a year, the City of New York has agreed to pay $26 million, with an additional $10 million, to settle the cases.

According to CNN, the 22-month investigation by the District Attorney's office and lawyers found that evidence of their innocence was withheld during the trial, including FBI documents.

Malcolm X was assassinated in 1965, and in '66, three men - Aziz and Islam along with Mujahid Abdul Halim - were convicted and sentenced to life in prison.

While Halim admitted to having a role in the assassination, Aziz and Islam maintained their innocence. The latter two spent decades in prison until Aziz was released in 1985. Islam followed in '87 but died in 2009, receiving his exoneration posthumously. His estate will receive his half of the settlement money.

"Muhammad Aziz, Khalil Islam, and their families suffered because of these unjust convictions for more than 50 years," attorney David Shanies told NPR. "The City recognized the grave injustices done here, and I commend the sincerity and speed with which the Comptroller's Office and the Corporation Counsel moved to resolve the lawsuits."

Fortunately, justice has finally been served for Muhammad A. Aziz and Khalil Islam, but we still don't know exactly who killed Malcolm X.

Cover photo: MARION S.TRIKOSKO / THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS / AFP

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