Home Ministry moves to declare Zakir Naik’s foundation ‘unlawful’

Mukesh Ranjan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 27

The government is finalising a proposal to declare controversial Islamist preacher Zakir Naik’s NGO— Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) — as an “unlawful association” as per the provisions of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), 1967.

According to the draft notification prepared by it, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has identified Naik’s provocative speeches, other criminal cases against him and his dubious links with Peace TV as grounds for banning the IRF, sources said, adding that this would be done under Section (3)(1) of UAPA.

They said the grounds for banning the IRF would be sent to a tribunal for its scrutiny and approval as mandated under Section 5 of the anti-terror law. Incidentally, the proposal has already been vetted by the Ministry of Law. “If urgent steps are not taken, there is every possibility of more youth being motivated and radicalised to commit terror acts,” it has noted in the draft notification.

The MHA will argue its case before the tribunal on the basis of evidence and statements gathered by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). It has said in its draft note that “statements of some terrorists arrested for being involved in the terrorist incidents and some IS sympathisers have revealed that they were inspired by the fundamentalist statements of Naik, indicating the subversive nature of his preaching and speeches”.

The MHA has noted that “such subversive ideology is against India’s pluralistic and secular fabric and it may be viewed as causing disaffection against India thereby making it an unlawful activity”.

The IRF and its president Naik have denied all charges levelled against them so far.