Amid reports that the Indian fugitive and controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik is set to be deported from Oman, he released a new video message
Indian fugitive Dr Zakir Naik who is under threat of detention, thanked the Oman government for giving him a “warm welcome”. He said, “I would like to invite Muslims and non-Muslims for a public talk on Quran, the global necessity.”
Qatar had invited Zakir Naik for a speech at the FIFA opening ceremony, which was opposed by India. MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had said, “The issue of Zakir Naik being wanted has been raised with Qatar.”
Zakir Abdul Karim Naik is a 57-year-old fundamentalist Islamic preacher. He gained prominence after being accused in the 2016 Dhaka cafe attack which killed 22 people. Soon after he fled India after facing charges of spreading hatred and money laundering
India’s counter-terrorism agency NIA filed a complaint against Zakir Naik, accusing him of promoting religious enmity and other unlawful activities. Naik has denied all the charges
A medical graduate from Mumbai University, Zakir founded Islamic International School in Mumbai and the United Islamic Aid and provided scholarships to poor Muslim youth
In 2006, Zakir Naik said that he was influenced by Ahmed Deedat, an Islamic preacher who founded Peace TV. He started broadcasting Islamic sermons. He also launched an Islamic video streaming service Al Hidaayah
In 2008, an Islamic scholar in Lucknow, Shahar Qazi Mufti Abul Irfan Mian Firangi Mahali, issued a fatwa against Naik, claiming that he supported Osama bin Laden and that his teachings were un-Islamic
India had declared Zakir Naik a wanted fugitive on charges of terror financing, hate speech, inciting communal hatred and money laundering