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Indian ’hate preacher’ Zakir Naik charged with money laundering

3 May 2019 08:17 pm - 9     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Indian prosecutors have charged controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik with money laundering, BBC reported.

A few days ago Sri Lankan authorities banned Zakir Naik’s TV channel 'Peace TV' in Sri Lanka.

Naik, who lives in exile, is accused of acquiring $28m (£21m) worth of criminal assets, a claim he denies. Indian authorities have also accused him of spreading hate speech and inciting terrorism.

Naik, 53, promotes a radical form of Islam on the Peace TV channel. It is banned in India but has an estimated 200 million viewers worldwide. Broadcasting from Dubai, Peace TV is owned by the Islamic Research Foundation, a group headed by Naik, the BBC reported.

Other countries have banned the channel - including Bangladesh, where it is accused of inspiring one of the gunmen behind a 2016 cafe attack in Dhaka in which 22 people were killed.

India's Enforcement Directorate (ED), which investigates financial crimes, filed the charges against Naik in a court in Mumbai on Thursday.

It told the court that it had identified assets worth millions of dollars as proceeds of crime.

Naik's "inflammatory speeches and lectures have inspired and incited a number of Muslim youths in India to commit unlawful activities and terrorist acts", ED told the court.

The agency has accused him of using funds from "dubious or suspicious sources" to buy property in India and finance events where he made "provocative speeches".

Naik says the money was obtained legitimately.

Naik's fundamentalist approach to religion has long been controversial.

Many detained al-Qaeda followers have reportedly told officials that he was a huge influence on them.

He was banned from entering the UK in 2010 for "unacceptable behaviour", and because of his speeches, by then-home secretary (and now Prime Minister) Theresa May.

However, it was in July 2016 when he really came to international attention, after a deadly attack on the Holey Artisan cafe in Dhaka.


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  Comments - 9

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  • acs Friday, 03 May 2019 08:30 PM

    Crazy fellow

    MODA BURUWA Friday, 03 May 2019 08:31 PM

    This man is a disgrace to the medical proffession . He , Zakir Naik is tooooo much believing ( In NO evidence can be proved) for the Saudi money for his survival .

    Faqir Hussain Friday, 03 May 2019 08:47 PM

    "Peace TV" is banned in the USA

    Samana Friday, 03 May 2019 08:54 PM

    always Blaming India is not good for us as they helped us most of the time except their Army came to SL in 1987

    VJ Friday, 03 May 2019 09:07 PM

    Dubai is a safe haven for criminals. Starting with Dawood Ibrahim to Madush, a long list between the two. Dubai is rich with ill-gotten money.

    Ragula Friday, 03 May 2019 09:18 PM

    An evil man of the present time a core impact on extremists.

    Danish Friday, 03 May 2019 10:09 PM

    This is Call RSS Hindu terrorism

    Attapattu Friday, 03 May 2019 10:38 PM

    Is your name Danish or Daesh? Was it a typo?

    Hosur Friday, 03 May 2019 10:33 PM

    Under the guise of comparative religion this man spews venom against other religions.He should be banned across all media


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