Malaysia will send controversial televangelist Zakir Naik back to India if its government requests his extradition, said Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on Wednesday (Nov 8).
The Muslim preacher is a permanent resident in Malaysia, and is believed to be in the country.
In late October he was charged by India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) for inciting terror and delivering hate speeches.
According to the Malay Mail Online, Datuk Seri Zahid, who is also Home Minister, told Parliament that India had not requested extradition yet, but Putrajaya will go ahead with deportation if requested via the Mutual Legal Assistance programme between the two governments.
He added that there is as yet no application from Zakir to become a Malaysian citizen, contrary to earlier reports in the Indian media.
His international passport has been revoked by the Indian government.
Zakir, 52, is accused of inciting youth to take up terror acts and join terror outfits such as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). He has reportedly recommended the death penalty for homosexuals and those who abandon Islam as their faith. A YouTube video shows him saying that if Osama bin Laden “is terrorising America the terrorist, the biggest terrorist, I am with him”.
Bangladesh suspended Peace TV channel, which features his preachings, after some media reports claimed bombers of a Dhaka cafe that killed 22 people last year were fans of Zakir.
Zakir has denied the accusations against him and has claimed that he was being targeted by India’s Hindu nationalist government because of his popularity.
The preacher has a substantial following in Malaysia, with both Dr Zahid and Prime Minister Najib Razak posting photos taken with him last year on Facebook.
Opposition Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) had previously urged the government to disregard any potential Indian extradition request, saying the allegations aim “to block his influence and efforts to spread religious awareness among the international community”.
Dr Ahmad Zahid had told Parliament on Oct 31 that Zakir had not broken any laws or regulations during his stay in Malaysia. “As such, there is no reason from a legal standpoint to detain or arrest him,” he said.
He assured lawmakers today that the government would continue to monitor Zakir’s activities in the country and would take action if he got involved in any terrorist activities, reported The Star.
Earlier, The government is satisfied that controversial preacher Dr Zakir Naik does not promote terrorism, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.
Zahid, who is also the Home Minister said, it drew the conclusion after the ministry had gone through all the videos and transcript of speeches made by Zakir, both locally and overseas.
He added allegations of Zakir promoting hate speech might be due to his words being taken out of context.
“We have gone through all of his speeches and none of them was found to be promoting terrorism,” he said.
“The interpretation (of promoting terrorism) was made by several figures overseas. The incident in Dhaka was a perception of that country,” he told parliament yesterday while replying to points raised during the debate on the budget.
The controversial preacher is being sought by India for alleged link to terrorism, including a terror attack in Dhaka, Bangladesh, last year that had left scores of people dead.
In April, Zahid had confirmed that the government has granted permanent resident status to Zakir five years ago.
Zahid also dismissed foreign news report indicating that Zakir had tried to apply for citizenship in Malaysia.
He added the government would repatriate the preacher to India if it received a request of Mutual Legal Assistance.
Zahid said so far the Indian government had not sent any request to Malaysia to extradite the preacher.
“I have met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Zakir was among the matters raised. At that time, there was no request to extradite Zakir,” he said.
Zahid said Zakir would continue to enjoy his permanent resident status as long as he did not breach any laws or promote terrorism in Malaysia.
Also, Ipoh Barat MP M Kulasegaran has warned that the federal government’s apparent special treatment of fugitive Indian preacher Zakir Naik threatens to shatter the image of Malaysia as a moderate Muslim nation.
He said Putrajaya would be put in an uncomfortable and embarrassing position if India issues a non-bailable warrant against Naik and gets an Interpol red corner notice on him which would require the country harbouring him to hand him over to India.
“If all this comes to pass, Malaysia will be put on the spot. Prime Minister Najib’s standing as a Muslim moderate and his creation of a lobby for global moderation will be in tatters,” he said.
“Malaysia cannot run with the hare of global moderation and simultaneously hunt with the hounds of Muslim extremism,” he added in his speech in the Dewan Rakyat today while debating Budget 2017, tabled by Prime Minister Najib Razak.
The DAP vice-chairman said a video showing Naik receiving “VVIP” treatment in Malaysia had gone viral.
The video shows Naik, who has been given permanent resident (PR) status in Malaysia, being driven in an official car escorted by police outriders.
“He is alleged to be linked to terrorism in India. Interpol may soon issue a red flag on him,” Kulasegaran said.
“Why then is he given special treatment in Malaysia? Is the government willing to cooperate with the Indian government and deport Zakir?”
Kulasegaran said investigative agencies in India wanted to examine cases related to 50 individuals who were allegedly drawn to violent extremism after listening to Naik’s sermons.
He said Indian agencies were also probing the source of funds received by Naik’s organisations from different countries.
Naik was seen on Sept 29 participating in Friday prayers at the Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin Mosque in Putrajaya. Photos of him in the congregation were uploaded on Facebook and spread via social media.
According to reports, he also resides in Saudi Arabia.
Last week, Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Raveesh Kumar said the government was finalising the internal legal process for an extradition request to Malaysia.
On Oct 31, the home ministry said Naik was not receiving “special treatment” although he enjoyed PR status in Malaysia.
In a written answer to DAP’s Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, it said there was no reason to arrest him for alleged terrorism as he had not violated any Malaysian laws.
“Besides, the government has not received any official request from the Indian government in relation to allegations that he was involved in terrorist activities,” it said.
Naik fled India in 2016, after a suspect in a terror attack on a Dhaka cafe in Bangladesh said he had been influenced by Naik’s speeches. Bangladesh banned his Peace TV channel.
The Times of India reported on Oct 21 that India’s National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) probe had revealed that Naik had radicalised and influenced several Muslim youngsters to be involved in jihadi activities through his speeches.
The youngsters had then joined violent extremist organisations and planned terror attacks in India, it added.
It cited several terror suspects, including Indian Mujahideen member Qateel Ahmed Siddiqui, alleged Islamic State (IS) online recruiter Afsha Jabeen, and IS recruits Mudabbir Sheikh, Mohammed Obaidullah Khan, Abu Anas and Mohammed Nafees Khan, as claiming that they were influenced by Naik’s speeches.
