India to take up Zakir Naik's extradition from Malaysia soon

Mumbai, November 4: India is all set to take up the extradition of controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik with Malaysia. The government has imposed a five-year ban on the IRF under anti-terror laws and has declared Naik an absconder.

The National Investigation Agency on Thursday filed a chargesheet against controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik for radicalizing Indian Muslim youth to join the jihad, terrorism, spreading enmity between religious groups and disturbing communal harmony and attempting forced conversions.

The central probe agency has filed the chargesheet before NIA special court in Mumbai in which Zakir Naik is charged under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and Sections 120B, 153A, 295A, 298 and 505(2) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The 52-year old's hardline views had allegedly sparked outrage in India. National Investigation Agency has charged Naik and Mumbai-based non-profit Islamic Research Foundation with indulging in unlawful activities and promoting religious hatred.

Importantly, several terror suspects, including Indian Mujahideen member Qateel Ahmed Siddiqui, alleged woman IS online recruiter Afsha Jabeen, and IS recruits Mudabbir Sheikh, Mohammed Obaidullah Khan, Abu Anas and Mohammed Nafees Khan, who were held in pan-India raids by the National Investigation Agency last year, had claimed that they were influenced by Naik's speeches.

Controversial preacher Naik left India on 1 July 2016, after he came into limelight as Bangladeshi agencies reported on his alleged role in inspiring the terrorists who attacked a Dhaka bakery in July 2016. Therefore, NIA registered a case against Naik at its Mumbai branch under various sections of the IPC and UAPA on 18 November 2016. Later, Naik’s NGO Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) was declared unlawful by the Union home ministry in December 2016.

Also, several websites related to Naik and the IRF were blocked while the NIA approached YouTube and Facebook to take down Naik’s videos, arguing they were responsible for spreading hate, inciting terror and insulting the religious beliefs of several groups, including Christians and Hindus in India.