Zakir Naik to be Booked on Terror Charges; IRF Declared Unlawful

About 50 terror accused arrested from different parts of the country, have claimed to be influenced by Zakir Naik.

Zakir Naik (Photo: TNM)

The government is about to slap terror charges on Islamic televangelist Zakir Naik for inciting violence among 50 people accused in terror-related cases. The government has declared his NGO Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) unlawful.

A Mumbai Police report, indicting Zakir Naik for alleged provocative speeches and involvement in unlawful activities, had been forwarded to the Centre, a top Maharashtra government official said.

The home ministry, armed with legal opinion, has decided to book Naik under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for speeches it has, along with the Maharashtra government, found to be laced with jihad-inspiring content.

Government sources to <i>The Times of India</i>

Naik was accused of influencing the militants who carried out the Dhaka terror attack at a restaurant killing 20 people.

The primary ground for invoking terror charges against Naik are statements by those involved in past terror acts, conceding that they were motivated by his speeches.

Intelligence Officer told <i>TOI</i>

Naik had gone to Saudi Arabia on a pilgrimage and was supposed to return to India on 11 July. But he later changed his plans and reportedly went to Africa instead.

Among the alleged terrorists who have recorded statements against Naik are:

• Feroze Deshmukh - former IRF employee, arrested by the Maharashtra ATS for his alleged role in the 2006 Aurangabad arms haul case.
  
• Qateel Ahmed Siddiqui - Indian Mujahideen member who was murdered inside Yerwada prison in Pune in June 2012.
  
• Biju Saleem - former sub-inspector with the hi-tech cell of the Kerala Police and alleged SIMI sympathiser who was accused of allegedly trying to create unrest among religious communities by leaking information to the media about police snooping on Muslim community leaders and thinkers.
  
• Afsha Jabeen - alleged IS online recruiter, arrested in September 2015 on deportation from the UAE.
  
• Mudabbir Sheikh, Mohammed Obaidullah Khan, Abu Anas and Mohammed Nafees Khan - all four were arrested in raids across the country by the NIA in January for floating a local IS-affiliate named Junood ul Khalifa e Hind.
  
• Asadullah Ali and Rafique Islam - alleged Jamaat ul Mujahideen Bangladesh operatives arrested during the Burdwan blast probe.

(With inputs from The Times of India.)

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