Zakir Naik, the controversial Islamic speaker, came under the scanner after it emerged that one of the Dhaka gunmen who executed the attack on 1 July in Bangladesh, was his follower. This led the Bangladesh government requesting India to help tighten the probe by questioning Naik, resulting in a massive controversy, widely covered by the media.
On Monday, Naik appeared on an Indian news channel, India Today, on 25 July to discuss the recent controversy and his return to India.
Here are some major takeaways from the interview.
‘Will Not Come for a Media Trial’
Naik said he is not afraid of coming to India, but he will not come back to be subjected to a media trial in the country.
I have heard many allegations against me in the India media... I am not afraid at all. So far, there has been not a single Indian government authority which has called me. Just because the media has labelled allegations against me... I am not going to come to India for a media trial.Zakir Naik
‘I Am For Modi’
When Naik was asked about his views on Modi, he responded with:
He (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) is the first Indian Prime Minister to have been to so many Muslim countries... If his intention is to get communal harmony, I am for him.Zakir Naik
‘My Clips Shown on TV Are Taken Out of Context’
He reiterated the same arguments he has used before to accuse the media of victimising him.
Most of the clips shown on the television of myself are out of context, half statements or doctored. So are my statements in the print media.Zakir Naik
‘Media Can Convert a Hero Into a Villain’
In an earlier statement as well, Naik had blamed media for portraying him wrongly.
According to me, the media is the most important weapon in the world. It can convert a hero into villain or even a villain into a hero. I’m shocked at the media trial on me regarding the recent terrorist attack that took place in Dhaka Bangladesh on 1 July 2016.Zakir Naik
‘Bangladeshi Newspaper Ran a False Story on Me’
In his interview with India Today, Naik also accused the media of first running a false story on him, and later not giving enough attention to the apology that was presented to him by the newspaper.
A Bangladeshi newspaper carried a false story about me influencing one of the Dhaka attackers. The Indian media quoted this report. However, when the newspaper apologised for publishing that article the next day nobody carried it.Zakir Naik
(Source: India Today.)
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