Zakir Naik is an Indian Islamic preacher and the founder and president of the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF). He is also the founder of the “comparative religion” Peace TV channel through which he reaches a reported 100 million viewers.
After Interpol on Saturday refused to issue a red corner notice (RCN) against controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) said it will submit a fresh request for the same.
“NIA’s request for Red Notice against Zakir Naik was not accepted by Interpol as charge sheet had not been filed when the request was submitted to the Interpol headquarters. Now NIA will submit a fresh request to Interpol as charge sheet has already been filed in the NIA court concerned in Mumbai,” an NIA official said.
In a statement, Naik’s spokesperson said: “Interpol has canceled red corner notice on Dr. Naik and instructed its worldwide offices to delete all data from files on him, citing political and religious bias among other reasons.”
“The Interpol contended that there was a severe lack of evidentiary basis, a failure by Indian authorities to follow due process of law, political and religious bias that formed the basis of such a notice, and lack of international interest,” he added.
It also said: The Interpol’s Commission found after a thorough examination that the request from the Indian NCB was not compliant with Interpol’s rules and thus decided the Indian government’s request for Red Corner notice should be canceled.”
Last year in November, the Indian government had banned Naik and his organization for five years, the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) after declaring it an “unlawful” organization.
Naik is also accused of spreading hatred through his speeches, funding terror groups and laundering money. The NIA last year had registered a criminal case against him.
Meanwhile, last month, the External Affairs ministry said that India’s legal process for approaching Malaysia for the extradition of Zakir Naik, charged by the NIA for radicalizing youths, is “nearing completion” and soon an official request will be sent. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Raveesh Kumar also said that the ministry’s internal process was underway in the case.
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