NIA Files FIR Against Zakir Naik, Conducts Raids at 10 Centres of IRF in Mumbai

Mumbai: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday filed an FIR against controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik for indulging in unlawful activities and promoting enmity and hatred between different religious groups in India through his provocative speeches.

The FIR was filed under Section 153A and UAPA Act on Friday evening.

In the FIR, the NIA has alleged Naik of inciting Muslim youth in India to commit unlawful activities and terrorist acts.

As per latest information, the NIA team is conducting raids at ten centres of Zakir Naik's NGO Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) in Mumbai with regard to the matter.

The sources also asserted that there are possibilities that Zakir Naik will be called for questioning.

Reacting to the news, BJP leader Zafar Islam claimed that action has been taken after gathering all the information and that Zakir Naik should return and face the law.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Ministry of Home Affairs had declared IRF an unlawful association under the anti-terror law for five years for its alleged terror activities.

ALSO READ: Zakir Naik Proclaiming Every Muslim Should Be a Terrorist: Home Ministry

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Union Cabinet presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Justifying the ban imposed on the IRF, the government had said that Zakir Naik has been extolling Osama Bin Laden, proclaiming that every Muslim should be a terrorist and claiming



that if Islam had indeed wanted 80 per cent of Indians would not have remained Hindus.

ALSO READ: Centre Decides to Ban Zakir Naik's NGO Islamic Research Foundation for 5 Years

As per sources, the government had already issued a notification against the Islamic preacher on November 17.

Notification says IRF and its members particularly the founder and President Dr Zakir Naik has been encouraging and aiding its followers to promote, on grounds of religion, disharmony or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill will between different religious groups and communities.

Noteworthy, six cases have already been registered against the IRF and its members in different part of India.

A case has already been registered against an IRF employee Arshi Qureshi in August 2016 at Nagpada police station in Mumbai after an arrested youth accused Qureshi of radicalising him that led him to join ISIS.

Another FIR was filed against Qureshi at Palrivattam police station in Kerala in July 2016 for promoting ill will and forcible conversion of Kerela youth who went missing and was suspected of joining ISIS.

Notably, two FIRs were also filed against Dr Zakir Naik at Sawantwadi police station and Vengurla police station of Sindhudurg for making derogatory statements against Hindu Gods and was chargesheeted in 2014.

In 2013, a case was filed against the Islamic preacher at Kurla police station in Mumbai for making derogatory statements against Hindu Gods.