MAPIM slams NIA’s latest accusation against Zakir Naik

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Consultative Council Of Islamic Organization (Mapim) described the latest accusation by India against preacher Dr Zakir Naik as another lie to justify it’s efforts to have him extradited home.

Mapim demanded India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) to first show proof that 127 persons caught in terror activities were influenced by Zakir.

“If it is unable to do so, this is a lame allegation by the NIA, a reflection of it’s ultimate agenda to take him into custody and halt his propagation of Islam in India,” said its president Azmi Abdul Hamid.

He also rejected NIA’s accusation that the majority of Islamic State (IS) supporters arrested in India had been radicalised through viewing of Zakir’s videos.

“This is an attrocious statement that does not reflect the intelligence of the agency and will not stand as an evidence of proof.

“If such claim holds any truth then Zakir‘s speeches would have created similar impact on the Malaysian public,” he said in a press statement here.

Azmi also emphasised that the Malaysian authorities have been detaining IS-linked groups for years and never found any link to Zakir.

As such, he said he believed that the latest allegation by NIA was a lie and an attempt to pursue the BJP government efforts to extradite Zakir.

“We condemn this concocted and frivolous accusation against Zakir by the NIA, CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) and the Indian police,” said the Mapim president.

Azmi added that the Malaysian public had been exposed to thousands of Zakir’s videos, speeches, and printed materials, but have never found them to be the source for violence.

“Malaysians in fact welcomed his argument for the correct understanding of Islam and the need for a harmonious co- existence of race and religion.” he said.