Referring to the investigations by India into his foundation over terrorism links, the Islamic preacher told the Malay daily that he had never engaged in any form of terrorism.
In November last year, India banned Zakir’s Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) for five years, citing Zakir’s “objectionable and subversive” speeches. This action was part of investigations into the IRF by the relevant authorities in the country.
The Times of India, in a report last November, said authorities had also cited criminal cases filed against Zakir and other members of IRF in Mumbai and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra and Kerala, as well as his “dubious” links with Peace TV that allegedly features “communal” and “pro-jihad” content, as reasons for the banning of the “unlawful organisation”.
Zakir left India after investigations had started and has since been in Malaysia, where he has been giving a series of talks around the country and was even reported to have been given permanent residency status.
According to Sinar Harian, he dismissed critics who had called him a terrorist, and had instead characterised such people as being terrorists themselves.
Meanwhile, the Hindustan Times recently reported that India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) has issued a notice to Zakir to present himself for questioning on March 14.
On March 1, a group of 19 people in Malaysia, including Hindraf chairman P Waythamoorthy and lawyer Siti Kasim, filed a suit against the government here for allegedly harbouring Zakir.
Demeaned other religions
Zakir is infamous for a video-recorded statement he made in a public talk and which has been shared widely on social media where he asserted: “Every Muslim should be a terrorist.”
He is also recorded having allegedly demeaned other religions, such as when he said: “How can we allow this (building of churches or temples) when their religion is wrong and when their worshipping is wrong? Therefore, we will not allow such wrong things in our Islamic country.”
The Sinar Harian report quoted Zakir as saying thousands of people came to his talks, many of whom received his message to be applied in their daily lives.
He told the daily that there are parties that are uncomfortable with his actions and made baseless allegations against him even though he is delivering a message of peace.
Indian authorities summon Zakir Naik for questioning on Tuesday