Muhammad Abdul Aziz
Muhammad Abdul Aziz | |
|---|---|
| Born | Norman 3X Butler June 27, 1938 |
| Occupation(s) | Activist, head of security at Masjid Malcolm Shabazz |
| Known for | Wrongful conviction and exoneration in the assassination of Malcolm X |
Muhammad Abdul Aziz (; originally named Norman 3X Butler; born June 27, 1938) is an American individual who was wrongfully convicted and later exonerated in connection with the 1965 assassination of Malcolm X. His conviction was overturned in November 2021, many years after he was released on parole in 1985. Aziz consistently asserted his innocence, while Mujahid Abdul Halim, who admitted to the killing, maintained that both Aziz and co-defendant Khalil Islam were not involved.
Biography
Aziz belonged to the Fruit of Islam, which serves as the security division of the Nation of Islam; subsequently, he embraced Sunni Islam under the guidance of Warith Deen Mohammed. He adopted a new name during his incarceration. Aziz served in the United States Navy, having enlisted shortly after completing high school in the late 1950s. In March 1998, he assumed the role of head of security at Masjid Malcolm Shabazz, a Sunni mosque located in Harlem, New York, formerly known as NOI Mosque No. 7.
Prior to the February 2020 debut of Who Killed Malcolm X?, a Netflix documentary series, New York County District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. announced a review into Aziz's conviction. On February 11, Vance convened with Aziz’s legal counsel and representatives from the Innocence Project to initiate a reinvestigation.
Following almost two decades behind bars and 36 years on parole, Aziz was officially exonerated on November 18, 2021, concluding a comprehensive 22-month inquiry. With assistance from the Manhattan DA’s office, attorneys uncovered that crucial evidence had been withheld by the FBI and NYPD during the March 1966 trial—information that might have resulted in acquittal. Although exonerated, some witnesses had previously identified Aziz as one of the perpetrators. The second-degree murder conviction of co-defendant Mujahid Abdul Halim remains intact; Halim has not denied his involvement and has named additional conspirators affiliated with the Newark Nation of Islam mosque.
On July 14, 2022, after unsuccessful settlement talks with New York City officials, Aziz initiated a $40 million lawsuit alleging wrongful imprisonment. By October 2022, the city reached a settlement favorable to both Aziz and Islam; the Law Department issued an apology for their erroneous convictions and acknowledged the harm caused to those falsely accused in connection with the assassination of a prominent figure.
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