Early life

Akbaruddin Owaisi (born 14 June 1970) is an Indian politician based in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh and an MLA of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly.He belongs to All India Majlis-e Ittihad al-Muslimin and is its floor leader in Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly. Akbaruddin is a member of the Owaisi family, being the son of Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi and the younger brother of Asaduddin Owaisi. Owaisi is known for making inflammatory Islamist speeches.

In 2007, he threatened to carry out the fatwa to kill Salman Rushdie and behead Taslima Nasreen if they ever visited Hyderabad. In 2011, he said that he would have killed P V Narasimha Rao with his own hands had he not died.

In 2012, Owaisi made several hate speeches disparaging Hindus and Hindu beliefs, in one of which he said that the 250 million Muslims of India needed only fifteen minutes without police to show the one billion Hindus of India who is more powerful.

He was arrested on on 8 January 2013, and was housed in the Adilabad district jail for 40 days before being released on bail on 16 February 2013. The court approved bail for Akbaruddin Owaisi on health grounds on 15 February 2013. He is under trial and is accused of sedition, criminal conspiracy, spreading communal hatred, waging war against India and some other charges. Akbaruddin Owaisi was born in Hyderabad on 14 June 1970.

He studied in the Hyderabad Public School till tenth grade and completed his intermediate from St. Mary's Junior College in Hyderabad. Owaisi studied medicine for two years in Gulbarga but quit during his second year of MBBS course to enter politics.

In 1995, Owaisi married a Christian woman, who converted to Islam and took the name of Sabina Farzana. The marriage was opposed by his father Salahuddin Owaisi who refused to forgive Akbaruddin. Akbaruddin Owaisi and his father reconciled in 1998. Owaisi survived an attempt on his life in May 2011 when four persons associated with property dealer Mohammed Pehlwan attacked him over a property dispute.

Owaisi was stabbed and then shot thrice as he tried to run back to his car, and was later admitted in a critical state to the Owaisi Hospital in Hyderabad. Supporters of Owaisi and Pehlwan had clashed two years earlier during May 2009 elections as well. Akbaruddin Owaisi is the managing director of Owaisi hospital, which was set up by his late father Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi for the welfare of the Muslims.

Political career

Akbaruddin was first elected to the state Assembly in 1999 and served as a deputy to his elder brother Asaduddin Owaisi, who was leading the MIM in the House. In 2004, Akbaruddin became the floor leader of MIM in the Assembly upon Asaduddin’s election to Lok Sabha from Hyderabad.He was reelected in 2009 and now leads the seven-member MIM in the House. In October 2012, Owaisi was accused of the murder of Ibrahim Younus Yafai and a murder case was booked against him by Chandrayangutta police.