Atlanta Daily World

Malcolm Shabazz (pictured), the grandson of the late civil rights leader Malcolm X, was arrested by the FBI Monday while en route to Iran to attend a Hollywoodism conference, Press TV reports. The FBI is refusing to provide any details on the arrest and Shabazz’s whereabouts are unknown, Press TV added.

Shabazz, who was born in Paris to Malcolm’s X’s daughter Qubilah, was charged at the age of twelve in the death of his grandmother and X’s widow, Betty Shabazz, back in 1997. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter and arson in connection to her death. He served four years in a juvenile detention center and was released in 2001. Psychiatrists reportedly diagnosed him at the time of the murder with being psychotic and schizophrenic.

Shabazz’s alleged arrest is unfortunately coinciding with this past weekend’s Lifetime premiere of the long-awaited drama “Betty and Coretta,” which peers into the relationship between the wives of civil rights era icons Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The film stars Mary J. Blige as Betty Shabazz and Angela Bassett as Coretta Scott King. Feb. 21 marks the commemoration of Malcolm X’s death. He was 39 years old.

Shabazz, who is currently a student at New York City’s John Jay College of Criminal Justice, is also said to be writing his biography.

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