TV evangelist and Islamic preacher Zakir Naik found himself in the middle of a brewing controversy after reports of Dhaka attack gunmen getting “inspired” by him did the rounds.
Media narrative has since then focused extensively on whether he has been responsible for radicalising the young militants and if at all, he is propagating violence and terror under the garb of Islam.
Refuting all these allegations, Naik in an interview with CNN News 18 on Wednesday, asserted that he has been “misquoted” in most cases.
On Promoting Violence
It has left me shocked that my views have inspired such people (extremists). All these people are also inspired by Prophet Muhammad but that does not mean that the Prophet is inspiring violence. The media has picked up one clip and turned it out of context and is now accusing me of promoting terrorism.
Naik repeatedly referred to the Quran and said that the killing of a human is wrong. “Quran says so too. If anyone kills any innocent human being, it is as though he has killed all of humanity,” he said.
On Osama Bin Laden
Naik had, in one of his videos, said that he “would not criticise Osama” and that “If Osama Bin Laden is terrorising the enemies of Islam, I am with him.”
Questioned on these comments, Naik said that his statements have been misunderstood.
Osama is neither a terrorist, nor a saint. The Osama video that is being used against me, is doctored.
‘My Speeches Have Brought People Closer to Islam’
Naik goes on to assert that there are several speakers who have been misguiding “innocent Muslims” in the name of Islam, and that he is not one of them.
He also made an ambiguous statement about being in touch with the intelligence heads of several countries and when prodded on the same said that he is open to intelligence agencies conducting an “unbiased probe” on him and his speeches.
He also refuted media reports that he is banned in Canada and Malaysia.
I am officially only banned in the UK. My speeches have brought people closer to humanity and Islam.
Naik was also questioned on his controversial statements about suicide bombing. In one of his speeches, he allegedly justified the act.
In the interview, however, Naik said that he has been misquoted again.
Suicide bombings for terror attacks is hundred percent wrong. It is against Islam. People don’t listen to my full speech and misquote me.
‘Islamic State is Actually Anti-Islamic State’
Reiterating his views on the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), Naik says that we should start calling it “A-ISIS” to imply an “anti- Islamic State of Iraq and Syria”.
He said the concept of ISIS is against Islam.
In the middle of the interview, the anchor dialled in Hasanul Haq, the Bangladeshi Information and Broadcasting (I&B) minister.
Haq said that the country is looking into the terror strike from all angles, including the gunmen taking inspiration from Naik. He further added that Naik’s interpretations of the Quran could be unacceptable to many people, hinting at a slight disdain towards his speeches.
He also mentioned that some clerics in Bangladesh have registered a complaint against Naik and in retaliation, Naik, said that it’s because they are threatened by him.
Watch CNN News 18’s full report here.
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