IRF FUNDED 300 ILLEGAL CONVERSIONS: COPS
The Mumbai police special branch, which has been carrying out a probe against Zakir Naik and his Islamic Research Foundation, has found the organisation converted at least 300 people. The revelation came after Kerala police and Maharashtra ATS arrested a guest representative officer of IRF and a Kalyan resident last week. The duo was named in an FIR filed in Kochi against a Christian man who converted and is believed to have joined IS.
MUMBAI: In what could be a damning report against controversial preacher Zakir Naik, officials have learnt that his non-profit Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) funded several illegal conversions.
The special branch of Mumbai police, which has been carrying out an in-depth probe against Naik and his organisation, has found that the IRF has indoctrinated and converted at least 300 people.
The conversions came to the fore after Kerala police along with the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested Arshid Qureshi, IRF’s guest representative officer, from his house in Navi Mumbai on Thursday. The next day, the same team arrested Kalyan resident Rizwan Khan who played a crucial role in conversions and marriages. Both Arshid and Rizwan were taken to Kochi on a transit remand after their names surfaced in an FIR registered in Kochi against Yahya alias Bestin Vincent, a Christian from Palakkad, who converted to Islam and is believed to have joined ISIS after he went missing from Kochi along with his wife Merin Jacob alias Mariyam. The complaint was registered by Merin’s brother Ebin Jacob.
According to Ebin’s complaint, Merin who hails from a Christian family at Edapally in Kochi had met Yahya while she was working in Mumbai in 2015, and then got married. During Merin’s stay in Mumbai, Yahya along with Arshid had influenced Merin, radicalised her and converted her to Islam, said Kerala police sources investigating the case. Merin tried to initially resist, but she was taken to various classes following which she was converted, added police sources.
Yahya and Arshid then forced Merin to join ISIS, which also she initially resisted and had even expressed her desire to come back to Kerala, reads Ebin’s complaint. Ebin has also alleged that Yahya and Arshid had even tried to compel him to convert to Islam.
Earlier, Merin’s parents had alleged that both Yahya and Merin had met controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik in Mumbai, and it was through him that they were radicalised. The special branch which conducted its probe has found that Rizwan also worked for an organisation known as Al-Birr Foundation located at Mazagaon in Mumbai, which happened to be the hub of conversions and marriages — the finances of which was borne by the IRF.
“After initial process of indoctrination when people came forward, they would be taken to Qureshi’s Navi Mumbai office for further indoctrination. Later, they would be taken to Dongri office where Khan would complete the documentation of conversion,” said a police officer, requesting anonymity. Investigators added Khan, who was also a maulvi (priest), would conduct marriages in case of couples being part of the group coming ahead for conversion. After the process was completed, Khan would send vouchers to Qureshi, mentioning individual expenses, which would then be encashed by Qureshi from IRF’s funds.
“IRF gets funds from several countries, including Saudi Arabia and that was diverted to these activities. Those converted would also get cash of around `50,000,” added the officer.
The investigators have also identified others who assisted Qureshi and Khan and were part of group influencing and converting people. These persons are also being questioned for further clarity.