India asks Malaysia to handover Zakir Naik in connection with Delhi riots

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The Indian government is trying to repatriate Zakir Naik, an Indian preacher based in Malaysia. The latest allegation against him is that he met a man involved in the riots in New Delhi in February.

A claim filed by the Delhi Police on June 15 alleges that Khalid Saifi, a wanted suspect in the bloody riots in New Delhi in February this year, met Zakir Naik and promoted his agenda. On the other hand, Zakir Naik has expressed ignorance of any such meeting.

Following this new development, India is once again debating this controversial Muslim preacher. On May 14, India made a formal request to Malaysia for the extradition of Zakir Naik. The controversial preacher has been living in exile in Malaysia for the past three years and has a permanent residency permit in Malaysia.

Naik faces charges of hate speech in India, as well as money laundering. He is accused of acquiring $28m (€25 million) worth of criminal assets to buy property in India and finance events where he made “provocative speeches,” a claim he denies. He has repeatedly denied accusations that he provokes religious violence and says the media has “resorted to doctored video clips and a host of dishonest schemes” to accuse him of terrorism.

Experts have commented that the complex political nature surrounding Naik’s case – coupled with growing religious tensions in the region – can make the extradition even more difficult.

It was not until July 2016 when he really came to international attention, after a deadly attack on the Holey Artisan cafe in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Naik was accused of inspiring one of the gunmen through his speeches, an allegation he vehemently denies and accused Bangladeshi media of sensationalism.

In November 2016, India’s counterterrorism agency filed an official complaint against Naik, accusing him of promoting religious hatred and unlawful activity. The following year, Naik sought asylum and moved to Malaysia.

 

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