In yet another embarrassment to the BJP-led Central government, the INTERPOL has, for the fourth time, refused to issue a Red Corner Notice against Islamic speaker Dr Zakir Naik, saying that promoting religion and raising money from his religious preachings could not be per se considered as committing a criminal act.
Responding to India’s request to arrest Dr Naik on charges of alleged money laundering, the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) in its order noted that the mere fact he raised money from his religious teachings and spent it is “irrelevant” and cannot amount to money laundering, Hindustan Times reported.
Dismissing the allegations furnished by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Dr Naik promoted enmity and hatred between different religious groups in India through public speeches and lectures, INTERPOL noted that asking for donations during speeches or dissemination of religious teachings were not in itself a criminal act and that there was no close link between the alleged incitement by Dr Naik and any ensuing act of violence
It international agency ordered deletion of data on Dr Naik from INTERPOL files.
Advocate S Hari Haran, Dr Naik’s legal counsel confirmed the agency’s order which was passed following deliberation by the INTERPOL panel between January 25 and 29.
Dr Naik has been living in Malaysia, where he has permanent residency and is known to be close to officials in the Malaysian administration.
The Islamic speaker came under an intense media storm, after a newspaper in Bangladesh, reported that one of the attackers of the 1st July 2016 Dhaka attack had shared one of his speeches on Facebook.
Although the Dhaka-based newspaper Daily Star, later clarified that Dr Naik did not inspire the Dhaka terror attack, however, the government and media houses have continued their campaign against the Islamic speaker, accusing him of being an “inspiration behind terror attacks across the world”.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) registered a case against Dr Naik under anti-terror laws in the same year for allegedly promoting enmity between different religious groups, the charges, which he and his supporters have vehemently denied.
Dr Naik in the past issued a statement expressing his willingness to return to India if the Supreme Court assured him in writing that he would not be taken into custody till he is actually convicted.
“Despite allegations and complaints, there is not a single verdict against me in any court anywhere in India or the world. The recent history of India is replete with cases of Muslims being arrested and put in jail for eight-20 years before being declared innocent by the court. Knowing this record of the Indian agencies, I would not like to take a chance of ruining my life and my unfinished work,” Dr Naik had said.
“I want to hasten up clearing my name from fictitious charges by the Indian agencies, they continue an exercise steeped in injustice and unfairness and are trying to put in jail irrespective of whether I am guilty or not… without trial and without hearing,” he had claimed.
“Any rational mind will see that the Indian agencies are not being driven by their duty of solving a crime but by the will of their political bosses. Fortunately for me, Interpol is not driven by Indian politics. Somehow they are not convinced about my ‘crime’ the way Indian agencies have been claiming,” Dr Naik had added.
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has said his country has the right not to extradite Dr Naik if he is not going to be accorded justice. “Zakir, in general, feels that he is not going to get a fair trial (in India),” he was quoted as saying.
A doctor by training, Dr Zakir Naik is the founder and president of the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) and Peace TV channel. He is well known for his debates and lectures on comparative religion.
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Shaik Zakeer Hussain is the Founder and Editor of The Cognate.
