NEW DELHI: The Centre on Friday declared radical Islamic preacher Zakir Naik’s NGO Islamic Research Foundation, (IRF), as an ‘unlawful association’ for a further period of five years, on the ground that the outfit and its members, particularly Dr Naik, have been encouraging and aiding others to promote disharmony, enmity and ill-will between different religious communities and groups.IRF was first banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, on Nov 2016 for five years, and the ban renewed in 2021 for another five years.Announcing the latest extension of the ban until Nov 2031 on his ‘X’ handle, home minister Amit Shah posted: “In steadfast adherence to Modi Ji’s vision of zero tolerance towards terrorism and anti-national activities, the MHA hereby extends the ban on the Islamic Research Foundation as an unlawful association under the UAPA.“Led by fugitive terror preacher Dr. Zakir Naik, the organisation has been involved in sinister anti-India designs, including inciting communal hatred, fostering hostility and promoting terrorism. The group has been found to be propagating a venomous ideology of terrorism and separatism, instigating violent unrest, encouraging the regrouping of absconding terrorists and fomenting communal discord”.Naik is said to be based in Malaysia as a permanent resident. Though India has been demanding his extradition, Malaysia has parried the request, purportedly in view of the likely political cost, given the country’s Muslim-majority status and the high following Naik enjoys among the local Muslim community. India had last submitted its extradition request to Malaysia in 2018, followed by a diplomatic note in 2020.
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Though NIA has been pursuing INTERPOL for issuance of a red-corner notice against Naik since 2017, the multilateral agency has not entertained the request. Naik has thus been travelling in and out of Malaysia, including to the Gulf countries, to deliver his religious sermons. He has not been to India since he left the country in mid-2016. However his name cropped in several terror investigations, including into cases like the 2016 Dhaka Artisan Cafe terror attack and ones relating to ISIS modules recruited in India.MHA said Naik has been making radical statements and speeches to millions of people worldwide through international satellite TV networks, internet, print and social media. The Centre said that unless the unlawful activities of IRF were curbed, it shall continue its subversive activities and re-organise its activists who are still absconding; disrupt the secular fabric of the country by polluting the minds of the people; create communal disharmony; propagate anti-national sentiments; and escalate secessionism by supporting militancy.
