By Rutashubanyuma Nestory.
Fear had struck Zanzibar following the mysterious death of a famous Sheikh Jabir Haidar Al-Fairsy. The highly revered Sheikh was found at the outskirts of the road dead sparking all kinds of conspiracy theories. He had no visible injuries but that didn’t stop tongues wagging from those endowed with wild imaginations drawing up their own reality documentaries in a form of conspiracy theories.
This article will look at a number of those theories, assess their credibility and come up with its own observations: What really happened and why did he die? Was this a natural death as a result of his known medical condition or there was something nefarious behind his death. Was it murder or natural death? This article will attempt to answer these questions, and more.
Before we rummage what these conspiracy theories claim there is a need to know who Sheikh Jabir Al- Farsy was. Here is a summary of his background from the available sources.
Background on Sheikh Jabir Haidar al-Farsy:
1. Identity and Education:
– Full name:
Jabir bin Haidar bin Jabir bin Saleh bin Kasim bin Mansuor bin Haidar bin Ahmed bin Muhammed El-Farsy.
Born in Zanzibar Stone Town:
– Graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Arabic and Islamic Studies and a Master’s in Public Administration (2013) from the International University of Africa.
2. Family Legacy:
– His father was a pioneer at the Zanzibar Radio Station (established 1957) and a renowned storyteller (“Dandanis Story“).
– His mother was among the first Zanzibari women to ride bicycles and attend football matches or political meetings, described as socially active yet strict.
3. Career and Roles:
– Employed by Tanzania’s Ministry of Education as a teacher of Islamic and Arabic Studies.
– Appointed Leader Khalifa of the Naqshabandi Sufi order in Zanzibar and all of Tanzania by Sheikh Abdulhamid bin Abdulkarim Naqshabandi.
– Founded Sufi festivals in Zanzibar, featuring music and songs, and established NGOs to aid the poor. He also engaged in public education through radio, TV, and community meetings.
4. Personal Life:
– Married Saada Mussa Khamis Al-Alawi in May 1995.
– Father of four children.
– Expressed contentment with life (“elhamdulillah“) but noted low salaries in Zanzibar’s capitalist economy.
5. His Activism.
- Sheikh Jabir Haidar al-Farsy is known for his advocacy for Palestinian cause. He has written and pontificated about it. Sometimes, his campaign suggests he believes armed struggle was the only way for Palestinian to recover their stolen land.
- He has been sympathetic to Islamic causes particularly on marginalization. He has been vocal about erosion of Islamic rights but I have found no evidence he was militaristic about it.
- He preferred Zanzibar independence from Mainland and made no secret about it.
- I didn’t find any concrete evidence that indicated his political alignment with either of the major political parties.
- He did not openly advocate for armed struggle to initiate internal change or reforms. However, his ideology was worrisomely aligned to Al-Shabab.
- While some commentators alluded he had ties with the Somalia terrorist group – Al-Shabab, I didn’t find credible evidence to support that claim.
What really happened to him on May 28th 2025?
According to his close confidants, around 7.00 p.m in the evening of Wednesday, May 28th 2025 a sleek white Noah parked at his residence, and six silhouetted men disembarked and headed to his home. What transpired inside his house remains controversial but informants claim he was handcuffed and taken to the waiting car.
One of his relative who was the eyewitness said he had confronted the strangers who had identified themselves as the police where they were taking him. They told him they would take him too if he didn’t shut up. That was the last time he saw Sheikh Jabir Haidar al-Farsy alive.
Hours later, by-passers saw a lifeless body dumped on the outskirts of the road. They reported to the police who turned up to collect his remains. Some onlookers claimed Sheikh Jabir Haidar al-Farsy had an injury on his right hand but those claims were quickly dispelled by the police and other witnesses. There was no sign of bodily harm inflicted on his body.
Some witnesses said they were surprised to see his motorbike known as ‘Vespa” was beside him. He didn’t leave from his home with Vespa but somehow the Vespa reappeared there to give the impression he was riding on it before his untimely death. Others disputed the presence of his Vespa at where his remains were found.
The witnesses were of the view the scene was staged to mislead them. Others found words to explain how the Vespa reappeared there. It was confusing to make meaningful findings from this whole caboodle.
Others who knew him said the location where his body was found was suspicious. He never went to those places, at all. They came to one conclusion: he was murdered elsewhere and dumped there.
Information differs depending on the source. The police says he left his home in his own accord. He wasn’t handcuffed as some have alleged. The police source their information feom the houseboy of Sheikh Jabir Haidar al-Farsy. It is unclear how other sources knew Sheikh Jabir Haidar al-Farsy was taken by force.
Here is an attachment of what social media pundits who have weighed on the subject. You may peruse their opinions to appreciate more how confounding Sheikh Jabir Haidar al-Farsy’s death has been to many.
My Own Take.
Sheikh Jabir Haidar al-Farsy didn’t die a natural death, he was murdered. However, the motive of his murder is unknown. There are at least conspiracy theories worth examination.
First, his ideology may have created powerful enemies. While empathising with the Palestinian cause aligns with the majority of Zanzibar but his perceived Al Shabbab links may have led to his demise. Few in the government tolerate terrorist active cells to threaten them.
If Al-Shabab is not the issue then he might have enemies he hardly knew assuming he was taken by his own accord. His killers may have lured him to his death in a manner that didn’t alert him! He could have been told they need him to meet someone powerful in the government little did he know it was a death trap.
Second, an extramarital angle is a distraction. That is not how crimes of passion are committed. I quickly dismissed this conspiracy contention.
Third, could there be a natural death angle into it. For this to hold any water requires him to return home and collect his Vespa. So far, nobody supports this theory. He never went home after meeting those six “wasiojulikana”
Sheikh Ponda said the faith in security forces is at ebbi very fast. Many now suspect it is the security forces that are abducting, torturing and murdering dissenters. He didn’t provide any evidence to support his postulation.
Read more analysis by Rutashubanyuma Nestory
