How King Faisal was assassinated and who was behind his assasination?

King Faisal bin Abdul Aziz 

King Faisal bin Abdul Aziz was assassinated on March 25, 1975, by his nephew Faisal Musaid. King Faisal, the custodian of two holy mosques, pursued a policy of unifying the Muslim Ummah. Moreover, king Faisal candidly supported the Palestinian cause. In order to send a message to the west that Saudi Arabia was supporting the Arab world during the Arab-Israeli conflict in 1973, King Faisal cut off oil supplies to the USA and the UK. Resultantly, the west got infuriated by the policies initiated by King Faisal, such as the oil embargo, the unity of the Muslim Ummah and pro-Palestine. His assassination was ultimately brought on by his political, economic, and religious policies.

Who was king Faisal bin Abdul Aziz?

Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud was born in Riyadh on April 14, 1906. He was the third king of Saudi Arabia. His father, King Abdul Aziz, was also the founder and first king of Saudi Arabia. His mother, Tarfa bint Abdullah, died in his childhood. King Faisal learned the skills of politics from his father, Abdul Aziz. Within a short time, King Faisal gained popularity as a powerful royal politician. King Abdul Aziz served as the foreign minister of Saudi Arabia and remained the king of Saudi Arabia from 1964 to 1975. King Faisal bin Abdul Aziz was assassinated by his nephew Faisal bin Musaid on March 25, 1975. 

As an upright and helpful person by nature, King Faisal supported the underprivileged and destitute. This made him a popular leader among people in Saudi Arabia and across the Muslim world. King Abdul Aziz introduced a number of reforms. He abolished slavery in Saudi Arabia, implemented a policy of modernization, and took up the banner of the pro-Palestinian cause. His candid aversion to Zionism and Israeli occupation of Palestine got him further repute. In addition, King Faisal pursued a foreign policy based on a united Muslim Ummah. He was the key figure in leading the 1973 oil embargo that resulted in crippling the western economy and high oil prices.

Assassination of King Faisal bin Abdul Aziz 

In 1975, King Faisal was having a meeting on the 12th of Rabiul Awwal. A delegation from Kuwait was also waiting in the king's office at the same time. King Faisal was meeting with diplomats from Kuwait when his nephew Faisal bin Musaid abruptly walked in. King Faisal leaned over to kiss Faisal Musaid on the head and nose in accordance with Saud Family custom when Faisal bin Musaid pulled a revolver from his pocket and shot the monarch three times in the head. 

Oil Minister Zaki Yamani yelled repeatedly not to kill the prince but Faisal Musaid turned a deaf ear. King Faisal was taken to the central hospital in Riyadh but couldn't survive and died in the hospital on March 25, 1975. Ahmed bin Abdul Wahab, one of the companions of the king, wrestled with Faisal Musaid, and got him arrested.

Who was Faisal bin Musaid?

Faisal Musaid

Faisal bin Musaid, the nephew of Faisal bin Abdul Aziz, received his education at the universities of Colorado and California. He was detained while in school on drug-related charges that later turned out to be real. He returned to Saudi Arabia and began working as a professor at King Saud University.
He came back to Saudi Arabia and started teaching at King Saud University. Meanwhile, he was in constant touch with his friend Christina.

Israel kept supporting Christina in order to achieve goals in the kingdom that had not been feasible during King Faisal bin Abdul Aziz's regime. However,
King Faisal had the intention of bringing the Muslim Ummah together. That is why he was an eyesore to the Jews.

When the Arab-Israel war broke out in 1973, Saudi Arabia stopped oil supply to the west and the USA because the USA and the UK were backing Israel in the war. In response, Henry Kissinger, the US secretary of state, threatened to destroy Saudi Arabia's oil wells if the oil supply was not restored. King Faisal bin Abdul Aziz responded that our ancestors died eating dates and drinking milk. We would do the same but not resume the oil supply. According to experts, it might be the reason that the USA got King Abdullah bin Aziz killed.

When an in-depth investigation was carried out, no evidence of a conspiracy was found. 

The highest religious court of the Saudi Kingdom sentenced Faisal bin Musaid to execution for his act of regicide.

Faisal bin Musaid was thought to be mad and mentally unstable at the time of the incident. However, after conducting a medical investigation, the medical team later dismissed the theory.

• King Faisal bin Abdul Aziz was the champion of reforms in the field of education in the country.
• He launched the country's first television broadcast in 1965.
• King Faisal introduced the first-ever five-year economic plan.
• In addition to administrative improvements, he founded the Ministry of Justice.
• He was instrumental in laying the groundwork for the modern welfare state. The kingdom's diversity in terms of religion and culture supports an inclusive stance.

Due to his initiatives, King Faisal encountered a lot of opposition as a  lot of modernizing policies were adopted by King Faisal. He also promoted the cause of Palestine under the aegis of the Muslim Ummah. His assassination on March 25, 1975, was the result of his vision for his country in general and the Muslim Ummah in particular.

 Read more: How Hitler died?