Malaysia denies of deporting controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik

Kuala Lumpur, July 6: The efforts of Indian authorities in bringing controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik back to the country seems to go in vain, as Malaysia on Friday had clearly shown its intention against deporting him.

 

Notably, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad at a news conference in administrative capital Putrajaya outside Kuala Lumpur said that Zakir Naik will not be sent back to India. "As long as he is not creating any problem, we will not deport him because he has been given permanent residency status," he said.

Controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik is accused of spreading hatred by his provocative speeches, funding terrorists and laundering several crores of money over the years in India. Investigation agencies are probing against Zakir Naik for terror and money laundering charges.

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.

In December 2017, The National Investigation Agency (NIA) submitted a fresh request to Interpol to issue a red corner notice (RCN) against controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik after completing requisite formalities which still is in progress.

In the year 2010 Naik was reportedly barred from entering Britain after the Home Secretary cited "numerous comments" which showed his "unacceptable behaviour". In a July 2008 TV broadcast Naik suggested that Al-Qaeda was not responsible for flying hijacked airliners into New York's World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, killing almost 3,000 people.

On the other side, Zakir Naik has consistently denied the charges against him, which also include money laundering. His passport has already been revoked and his NGO declared an unlawful organization. Zakir Naik is currently in Malaysia and has not returned to India since a Bangladeshi newspaper reported on his alleged role in inspiring the terrorists who attacked a Dhaka bakery in July 2016.