Zakir Naik's NGO banned for 5 years
The decision was cleared by the Cabinet, which met on Tuesday evening, following a proposal from the home ministry.
New Delhi: The Central government has declared controversial preacher Zakir Naik’s NGO Islamic Research Foundation as an unlawful organisation under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act for a period of five years.
The decision was cleared by the Cabinet, which met on Tuesday evening, following a proposal from the home ministry. The home ministry had earlier sought a legal opinion from the law ministry on the issue and there was a view that IRF could be banned under the UAPA. Following this, a detailed proposal was sent to the Union cabinet which gave its consent on Tuesday.
The move comes after investigation by the home ministry found the NGO was allegedly having dubious links with Peace TV, an international Islamic channel, accused of propagating terrorism, the official said.
Naik, who heads the IRF, has allegedly made many provocative speeches and engaged in terror propaganda. Multiple agencies, both from the Centre and Maharashtra, were carrying investigations into the activities of IRF amid reports it was involved in religious conversion and that some speeches of Mr Naik were inciting people.