With Interpol withdrawing the Red Corner Notice (RCN) against fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi, the spotlight is back on people who fled India to escape the law. One such fugitive is the controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik. Naik recently made headlines after some reports, in November 2022, suggested that Qatar had extended an invitation to him to attend the FIFA World Cup. However, the country denied the claims and said no such invitation had been sent to Naik. Who is Zakir Naik, why is he in Malaysia, and what charges does he face in India? We explain. Who is Zakir Naik? Zakir Abdul Karim Naik, 57, is a fundamentalist Islamic preacher who fled India in 2016 amid charges of spreading hatred and money laundering. When confronted with allegations of hate speech, Naik has consistently maintained that his statements are “twisted” and “misrepresented”. His speeches are broadcast on the channel Peace TV, which is banned in India, Canada, the UK, and Bangladesh. His trademark dress is the ‘modern’ western suit and a skullcap. Naik was born in Mumbai and finished his education, including an MBBS degree, in the city. He got involved in socio-religious activities in his 20s and eventually founded the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), now banned in India. He gained international attention when one of the accused in the 2016 Dhaka cafe attack, which killed 22 people, said he was inspired by Naik’s speeches. The same year, India’s counterterrorism agency filed a complaint against Naik, accusing him of promoting religious hatred and other unlawful activities. On November 17, 2016, the IRF was declared an unlawful organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (37 of 1967) by the Centre. When the ban was extended for another five years in November 2021, the Union Home ministry, in a notification, said the IRF has been indulging in activities prejudicial to the security of the country and had the potential of disturbing peace and communal harmony. About Naik, the notification said he has been “encouraging and aiding 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 which are prejudicial to the integrity and security of the country.” Flight to Malaysia In 2017, Naik sought asylum in Malaysia, where he is now a permanent resident. While India has been trying to extradite him, not much progress has been made in this regard. Interpol has refused to issue a Red Notice for Naik. In 2019, Malaysia Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said his country had the right to not extradite Naik if he “would not be accorded justice” in India. The same year, the preacher was banned from speaking in public in Malaysia, after he allegedly made racial remarks against the country’s ethnic Hindus and Chinese communities. Naik later apologised for these remarks. Mahathir then said Naik was trying to “stir up religious feelings”. In 2020, Naik claimed the Indian government had offered him safe passage into the country if he spoke in favour of the abrogation of Article 370.
