Malaysian govt gives Naik refuge to ‘please’ vote base
POLITICISED ISLAM Preacher’s presence seen as ruling party’s bid to win ethnic electorate KUALALUMPUR:
When Zakir Naik emerged from a prominent Malaysian mosque last month fansswarmedabouthim,seeking selfies with the Muslim televangelistwhosehardlineviewshave sparkedacriminalinvestigation back in his home country.
Accompaniedbyabodyguard, Naik was making a rare public appearanceatthePutraMosque inMalaysia’sadministrativecapital,wherethePMandhiscabinet members often worship.
Naik has been given permanent residency in Malaysia, and embracedbytopgovernmentofficials. Critics see Naik’s presence in Malaysia as another sign of top-level support for hardline Islam in a country .
Supportfor amore politicised Islam has grown in recent years underPMNajibRazak,especially after he lost the popular vote in the 2013 general election — the ruling coalition’s worst-ever electoral performance.
Sincethen,hisrulingpartyhas been trying to appease an increasinglyconservativeethnic Malay-Muslimbaseandreligion hasbecomeabattlegroundahead of elections the PM hasto call by mid-2018.
Naik has triggered controversy with his puritan brand of Islam—recommendingthedeath penalty for homosexuals and thosewhoabandonIslamastheir faith, according to mediareports
Lastweek,India’scounter-terrorismagencypreparedcharges against Naik, saying hehasbeen “promotingenmity between different religious groups through TV evangelist Zakir Naik’s speeches were aired mainly on English TV channels and Peace TV, which he started in 2006. He launched Peace TV Urdu in 2009.
His speeches allegedly influenced terrorists, including two of the six attackers who killed 20 people in a café in Bangladesh capital Dhaka in July last year
In November last year, the NIA registered a case against Naik at its Mumbai branch under various sections of the IPC and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act
The Centre has declared Naik’s NGO IRF as unlawful
The Enforcement Directorate is probing allegations of money laundering against Naik. It also filed a charge sheet against Amir Gazdar, Naik’s aide, in April
For failing to appear before the special court despite several summons, Naik was declared a proclaimed offender public speeches and lectures.”
The Malaysian government accommodatesNaikbecause“he remains a reasonably popular characteramongstMalays,who glossoverhismorecontroversial aspects,” said Rashaad Ali, an analyst with S Rajaratnam SchoolofInternationalStudies in Singapore.
MEETING THEPM MalaysianDeputyPrimeMinister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi told parliament on Tuesday that Naik, who obtained permanent
Previous cases
Cases were filed against Naik for his controversial remarks against Hindu deities in Kurla. Cases were also filed in Vengurla, Sawantwadi and outside Maharashtra
residency five years ago, wasnot being given “preferential treatment”.
“Over the time spent in this country, he has not broken any laws or regulations. As such, there is no reason from a legal standpoint to detain or arrest him,” Zahid said. The governmenthasnotreceivedanyofficial requestfromIndia“relatedtoterrorism allegations involving him”, he added.
Zahid and the PM have both posted photos on Facebook of their meetings with Naik last National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a charge sheet against Naik and his aides
He was charged with inciting youngsters and for financing terror activities
The charge sheet also named the Islamic Research Foundation and Harmony Media Private Limited — institutions founded by Naik — the accused
The charge sheet was filed on the basis of 151 witnesses. It stated that Naik promoted enmity and hatred between different religious groups through his public speeches and lectures
year in Malaysia.
AgroupofMalaysianactivists has filed suit in the high court to deportNaik, saying heisathreat topublicpeaceinthemulti-racial society .
Malaysia’s opposition Islamic Party(PAS),whichhasdefended Naik in the past, last week urged thegovernmenttodisregardany potential Indian extradition request, saying the allegations aim “to block his influence and efforts to spreadreligious awareness among the international community.”