Zulu Frontman Anaiah Rasheed Muhammad Fires Back Against Abuse Allegations
This past weekend, troubling abuse allegations were leveled against Zulu frontman Anaiah Rasheed Muhammad by a former partner of his. It was alleged that while they were living together, the accuser was harassed by Muhammad, his bandmates, and other individuals in his social circle and mosque.
In their claims, which made their way online via Instagram and you can read in full, the individual asked that people focus on Muhammad’s actions “and the impact and ripple effect of harm he has caused myself and others— by way of coercion, sexual assault, displacement, invasion of privacy, gaslighting, harassment, firing, triangulation, isolation, manipulation.”
In an Instagram post of his own, Muhammad denied the allegations wholesale, describing them as “false and deeply troubling.” His full response is as follows:
“I want to address the false and deeply troubling accusation that has been made against me. Forgive me if my words aren’t perfect, as I’m trying my best to navigate my speech. I wanted to put this out immediately but did not want leave a lackluster message.
“First off I want to start by saying that I categorically deny ever engaging in any form of physical abuse. Violence towards anyone, especially partners, is completely against my values, and I would never harm anyone.
“As a person and as a Muslim, my faith and moral values guide my actions every day. Islam teaches respect, integrity, and accountability, and I strive to uphold these principles in my life. I strongly condemn any form of physical or sexual assault, and I would never and have never engaged in such atrocities. The claims against me are not only untrue but also deeply damaging-to me, my loved ones, my band and those who have supported me throughout my life.
“Furthermore, I want to make it absolutely clear that I have never engaged in any form of coercion, manipulation, or isolation toward this individual. At no point have I ever tried to control her environment, interfere with her personal life, or restrict her in any way. I have also never encouraged or allowed anyone—friends, acquaintances, or otherwise to harass, intimidate, or gang-stalk her. Any suggestion that I have done so is entirely false and contradicts the values I live by.
“After our falling out (and for context, we were not in a romantic relationship and was upfront about this, as well as communicated with each other on that understanding) I made every effort to keep my distance from this individual out of respect and to avoid further conflict.
“Despite the false accusations, I have remained committed to resolving matters in a mature and dignified way. I even attempted to mediate through an imam, offering an opportunity to have a respectful and neutral conversation to resolve discrepancies we had in our overall communication. However, she was not willing to meet, and I respected that decision without further pursuing it.
“I am fully prepared to defend myself against these claims and will cooperate with any necessary process to clear my name. I trust that the truth will come to light, and I deeply appreciate those who continue to support me during this difficult time.”
Regardless of Muhammad’s response, the band has since moved on without him. On March 8, the day those allegations were made, Zulu went on to play a show in Brazil without Muhammad on vocals. In his stead, they had guitarist Dez Yousef behind the mic.
As it stands, the allegations made against Muhammad are just that — allegations. And while we stand with victims of abuse of all shades, we also cannot immediately condemn Muhammad for the allegations alone.
