 "Zakir Naik under MEA lens: Request to extradite hardline Islamic preacher to be sent to Malaysia soon")
A day after news emerged about controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik seeking refuge in Malaysia, the external affairs ministry has announced that India will soon make a formal request to Kuala Lumpur for Naik’s extradition.
Addressing a press briefing, the external affairs ministry’s official spokesperson Raveesh Kumar also added that the ministry’s legal internal process is nearing completion, after which the request will be sent to the Malaysian authorities.
Earlier, a Reuters report stated that Naik, who is banned in the United Kingdom, was given permanent residency in Malaysia five years ago. The report also quoted Malaysian deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as saying, “Over the time spent in this country, he (Naik) has not broken any laws or regulations. As such, there is no reason from a legal standpoint to detain or arrest him. The government has not received any official request from India “related to terrorism allegations involving him”. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on 26 October charged Naik with inciting youth to take up terror activities, giving hate speeches and promoting enmity between communities. The NIA had filed 4,000-page chargesheet in a special court in Mumbai against him and said that he promoted hatred between different religious groups in India through his public speeches and lectures. Naik is also being probed under terror and money-laundering charges by the NIA. He fled from India on 1 July, 2016, after reports emerged that terror accused in neighbouring Bangladesh claimed that they were inspired by his speeches. Earlier this year, Naik’s passport was also revoked by the external affairs ministry at the request of the NIA. The NIA issued notices to him thrice under Section 160 of the Code of Criminal Procedure asking him to join the investigation. However, he did not appear before the investigating agency. With inputs from agencies