The Indian Panorama

Tag: Zakir Naik – Islamic Research Foundation

  • Zakir Naik plays victim, dubs IRF ban ‘communal move’

    Zakir Naik plays victim, dubs IRF ban ‘communal move’

    MUMBAI (TIP): Controversial televangelist Zakir Naik has called the ban on his NGO Islamic Research Foundation (IRF)+ “a communal decision”. In a letter released on Friday through his spokesperson, his second since being accused of radicalising one of the perpetrators of the July 1 Dhaka cafe attack, Naik said IRF was banned without any agency questioning him.

    “…not a single time was I questioned or given a chance to explain,” he writes. “Their agenda is open and clear: implicate me by hook or by crook.”

    “The decision to ban IRF was taken in the middle of the demonetisation+ fiasco, as the country reeled under the self-imposed cash crunch. I won’t be surprised if this ban was meant to distract media from what was going on in the country.” Recently, the government banned IRF under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, froze the bank account of Islamic International School, while NIA has asked banks to freeze accounts of Naik, IRF and associate companies.

    Playing the Muslim victimhood card, Naik said IRF was slapped with UAPA because “the name of the religion has been made synonymous with violence”.

    Naik, like in his previous letter sent on September 10, alleged it was Indian Muslims who were under attack. “It is an attack on whom I represent, the Indian Muslims.”

    Naik, however, expressed his faith in the Indian judiciary. A source said Naik wrote this letter from an African country which he is touring currently.

  • Govt justifies ban on Islamic Research Foundation

    Govt justifies ban on Islamic Research Foundation

    NEW DELHI (TIP): The government on Thursday notified the ban on Salafist preacher Zakir Naik’s NGO+ , Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), citing Naik’s “objectionable and subversive” speeches extolling terrorists like Osama bin Laden, justifying suicide bombings and proclaiming that every Muslim should be a terrorist.

    “The IRF and its members, particularly, the founder and President of the said association, Dr Zakir Naik+ , have been encouraging and aiding its followers to promote or attempt to promote, on grounds of religion, disharmony or feelings of enmity, hatred, or ill-will between different religious communities and groups,” said the gazette notification issued by the home ministry declaring IRF as an “unlawful association” under Section 3(1) of the UAPA.

    Stating that the activities of IRF and Naik were “highly inflammatory in nature” and that “if urgent steps are not taken there is every possibility of many youth being motivated and radicalised to commit terrorist acts leading to promoting enmity between different religious groups,” the notification said the Centre was of the firm opinion that it was necessary to declare IRF as an unlawful association with immediate effect.