The controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik and his Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) may soon be booked under terrorism related charges for inciting violence among the Muslim youth in India.
According to CNN-News18, in a letter written by Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar to the Ministry of Home Affairs, he said that Zakir Naik should be booked under anti-terror law and that the government should gag him. The letter further stated that Naik’s ideology is divisive and against India’s pluralistic, secular and social fabric.
Kumar also added that IRF should be declared as an unlawful organization.
In July, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju had shown concerns over Naik’s divisive speeches.
Zakir Naik’s speech is a matter of concern for us. Our agencies are working on this. But as a minister, I will not comment what action will be taken.Kiren Rijiju
Naik, who is currently in Saudi Arabia, is under the scanner of state and central agencies for allegedly making incendiary speeches. However, he rejected the charges against him and claimed that he never encouraged anyone to kill innocent people.
Soon after the cafe attack in Dhaka, Bangladesh, he faced a lot of heat, because the attackers claimed to have been inspired by his speeches. Naik condemned all terror attacks and called himself “a messenger of peace”.
The controversial Islamic orator and founder of Mumbai-based IRF is banned in the UK and Canada for his ‘hate speech’ aimed at other religions. He is among 16 banned Islamic scholars in Malaysia. He is known in Bangladesh through his Peace TV, although his preaching often demean other religions and even other Muslim sects.
(With inputs from PTI and CNN-News18.)
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