Banning me would increase intolerance, writes Zakir Naik

MUMBAI: Islamic preacher Zakir Naik released a written statement to the media on Saturday, in which he alleged that banning him and his organisation, the Islamic

MUMBAI: Islamic preacher Zakir Naik released a written statement to the media on Saturday, in which he alleged that banning him and his organisation, the Islamic Research Foundation, would increase intolerance in the country “to an all-time high”.

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He asked why the centre first renewed, then cancelled IRF’s Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) license before suspending staffers in the ministry of home affairs. “Is it because the renewal was against the agenda of the government? Or because the suspended FCRA officials were not influenced by the MHA’s political agenda?” Naik asked in a statement, titled ‘Five Questions and an Appeal’.

He questioned the government’s re-investigation of IRF, saying the first probe did not reveal any evidence of wrongdoing. “Despite exhaustive investigations, not a single conclusive evidence of wrongdoing was reported by any government agency. Now investigations are being asked to be repeated and continued. Wasn’t the first one exhaustive enough? Did not they cover every aspect of my talks, every topic, every reply? Or is it because they could not find any wrongdoing? Is this a hunt to get something to indict me?”

“If IRF and I are banned, it will be the biggest jolt to the country’s democracy in recent times. This ban will set a precedence of unspeakable injustices against the 20 crore Muslims of India. It will embolden and encourage every fringe element in the country to do as they please.”