Farrakhan recovering, but Nation
of Islam questions motive of news reports

CHICAGO--The Honorable Louis Farrakhan is not on his death bed as reported by some media, Nation of Islam officials, including the Minister’s personal physician, acknowledged March 19 during a press conference at the Nation of Islam’s Salaam restaurant. Part of the press conference was carried live across the country.

"This does not mean that we’re not suspicious and concerned about attempts on the Nation of Islam and attempts on the Minister’s life and your constant efforts to destabilize our community," said Nation of Islam Chief of Staff Leonard F. Muhammad, to a battery of cameras and writers.

He was referring to an article in the New York Village Voice newspaper that reported the imminent demise of the Nation of Islam leader and a power struggle inside the country’s most disciplined Black organization.

National mainstream papers repeated the Village Voice article, igniting international concern about the Black leader’s well-being.

The alleged source of the misleading Village Voice article was a Final Call column by Jabril Muhammad that discussed personal observations of Minister Farrakhan’s health prior to his Saviours’ Day appearance where a vibrant Min. Farrakhan delivered a three-hour message.

"This is not a sign of a man near death. These are the points that were ignored by the media," said Leonard Muhammad. "Our question and concern is, why are you picking up these stories that you know have an ulterior motive? This is shameful.

"If the Village Voice is a nemesis of the Nation of Islam and has chosen to write sensational and untrue stories about the Nation of Islam, then why would you use them as a source of your information?"

The motive of the Village Voice was to "discuss succession of a man" who is walking around and nowhere near going any place, Leonard Muhammad said. "We know what you’re up to, and by the help of Allah you will not be successful. Those of us ... under the leadership of the Honorable Louis Farrakhan are in a unity that is unusual in the Black community. When you try us you will see that unity come against you," he said.

Dr. Abdul Alim Muhammad, the organization’s Minister of Health, gave the press an overview of Min. Farrakhan’s health status since he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1991. He said subsequent tests show that the cancer is under control and no longer an issue. Dr. Muhammad said some of what Min. Farrakhan is experiencing is a typical reaction to a relatively new cancer treatment with radioactive seed implants.

"There is no need for anyone to expect the eminent demise of the Honorable Louis Farrakhan," the doctor said. "This should serve as notice to all the vultures who are hovering over what they expect to be a dead carcass, that you can go home. This is no death watch."

Responding to a reporter’s question about a possibility that the Minister had been poisoned, Dr. Muhammad acknowledged biological warfare technology that can go undetected.

"Go ask the family of Martin Luther King do they have reason to believe (there was a plot against King’s life)," Chief of Staff Leonard Muhammad added. "Yes, we have reason to believe (that), and we are going to continue to believe that until you (white America) do better.

Mr. Muhammad also thanked the Village Voice for the article, even though it was not meant for good.

"The only reason for hope in the Black community throughout this country is the strength of the Nation of Islam. And the purpose of the Village Voice was to cause them concern," he said.

"This incident gave us an opportunity to see the tremendous outpouring of support for the Nation of Islam in this country and throughout the world," he added.

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