7700 16th Street NW facts for kids

The house at 7700 16th Street NW is a private home in the Shepherd Park neighborhood of Washington, D.C.. This building was once the main office for a group called the Hanafi Madh-Hab Center.

In 1973, a very sad and violent event happened at this house. Several members of the Hanafi Muslim group, including children, lost their lives. This was a major crime in Washington, D.C., at that time.

The house continued to be the Hanafi group's headquarters. During a later event in 1977, a spokesperson for the group, Abdul Azziz, spoke to reporters from the lawn. He made strong statements about what would happen if their demands were not met by people holding hostages downtown.

A sign on the building in the 1970s simply read: Hanafi Madh-Hab Center.

History of the House

Before 1969, this large Tudor-style house belonged to Thomas A. and Edith B. Cannon. They were famous for starting the Cannon Steakhouse in Washington, D.C.

In 1971, the famous basketball player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar bought this three-story house for $78,000. He then gave it to the Hanafi Madh-Hab group in November 1972 to use as their main office.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar later explained that he wanted to help establish a Hanafi community in Washington. He found this house in a diverse part of the city. He said he made a down payment and opened the building for the community. It served as a mosque, a home, and a community center for everyone.

The property was officially listed as the Hanafi American Mussulman's Rifle and Pistol Club. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and his wife, Habiba, were married at the Hanafi Center. They lived nearby and stayed closely connected to the center. About 30 people lived in this single-family house when it was the Hanafi headquarters.

A guide from 2015 mentions that the homes in this area, including this one, were impressive. They were often lived in by successful Black professional families, like doctors, judges, and politicians. This area became known as Washington’s "Gold Coast."

The Shepherd Park neighborhood, where the house is located, is known for being an upper-middle-class area with many Black residents. The Washington Post described the neighborhood as having large, solid brick and stone houses with nice lawns. It was a place where Jewish, white Christian, and Black families lived together peacefully. The Hanafi Madh-Hab house is right next to a large Orthodox synagogue and across the street from another synagogue.

The 1973 Event

A very serious and violent attack on the Hanafi Muslim community happened in this house in 1973. During this event, two adults and a child were killed. Four other children, ranging from 9 days to 10 years old, also died. Two other people were badly hurt. Four men from the Nation of Islam were accused of these crimes.

The University of Maryland's Global Terrorism Database has information about the 1973 killings at this house.

Changes to the House

After the 1973 event, the house changed a lot. The garden was cleared, and anything that could hide an intruder was removed. The windows were covered with bars, and a bright spotlight shone on the front steps. Hanafi guards, carrying long Japanese swords, began watching the house day and night.

They would pace back and forth, even in winter. This made some neighbors feel uneasy. The house became like a "fortress." Basement windows were bricked up, and iron bars covered other windows. One of Khaalis's family members, Abdul Aziz, spoke to a reporter about the changes. He said they were ready to defend the house.

The 1977 Hostage Crisis

The leader of the Hanafi group, Khaalis, planned attacks in Washington, D.C., in 1977. His goal was to get revenge for the 1973 killings at his house. He wanted the government to give him the people convicted in the 1973 event. He had been gathering weapons at the house on 16th Street while planning this attack.

During the 1977 hostage situation, The Washington Post described the house as an "armed camp." They reported that at least one guard, carrying what looked like a rifle, paced in front of the house all the time. People also saw "machete practice sessions on the lawn."

Members of the group gave interviews from this house during the crisis. Amina Khaalis, a survivor of the 1973 event and daughter of the leader, said they would follow Muslim law first. She also stated they were ready to fight to the death to defend their home. Her husband, Abdul Aziz, told the press that they were fighting against "enemies of Islam."

There were tensions with other groups during this time. After the hostages were released, Khadyja Khaalis, the leader's wife, held a press conference at the house. She spoke about their beliefs and warned those they saw as their enemies.

Impact on the Neighborhood

Neighbors in this diverse and peaceful neighborhood had been supportive of the Hanafi group after the 1973 killings. However, after the armed attack and hostage-taking in 1977, their feelings changed. According to The New York Times, neighbors began discussing ways to remove the group from their community.