Zakir Naik associate Arshi Qureshi facilitated 700 conversions, according to police

Police personnel guarding outside Islamic Research Foundation, the office of Islamic preacher, Zakir Naik in Mumbai on Monday. PTI Photo

CONTROVERSIAL ISLAMIC preacher Zakir Naik’s associate Arshi Qureshi facilitated the conversion of 700-odd people, according to police. Qureshi is in police custody after his arrest from Mumbai in connection with a case pertaining to the missing Muslim youths from Kerala.

The brother of a missing convert, Ebin Jacob, had complained that he was taken to Islamic Research Foundation in Mumbai where Qureshi forced him to convert to Islam. Based on Jacob’s statement, police had registered a case against Qureshi under UAPA provisions.

The police alleged that over a period of time Qureshi helped in the conversion of more than 700 people, including those from Kerala. The police said it has to be ascertained whether the conversions were voluntary or forceful.

The Islamic Research Foundation is known to be associated with religious conversions and many among the 21 missing youths had visited the foundation before fleeing the country.