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Zakir Naik is in Oman, India expressing concern. Photo/One India
NEW DELHI – The government of India contacted Oman after reports that the Gulf state was hosting the country’s fugitive controversial preacher Zakir Naik. This was announced by a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of India.
“Zakir Naik is a suspect in many cases in India. He’s a fugitive from justice. We have discussed this matter with the Government of Oman, with the Omani authorities and we will continue to take all necessary measures to bring it to court in India,” Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi told a weekly press briefing. Saturday (25/3/2023).
India and Oman formally established diplomatic relations in 1955, which were upgraded to strategic relations in 2008.
Controversial Indian Muslim preacher Zakir Naik faces charges of money laundering and hate speech in India. He was invited by the Omani government-backed Ministry of Waqf and Religious Affairs.
Naik is scheduled to speak at Sultan Qaboos University on Saturday local time.
He had previously spoken on Friday, the second day of the holy month of Ramadan, at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Center. He arrived in Oman’s capital, Muscat, on Wednesday.
India banned the Zakir Naik Islamic Research Foundation in late 2016, accusing him of encouraging and aiding his followers to promote or attempt to promote feelings of enmity, hatred or ill will among different religious communities and groups.
But Naik has denied all these claims. He then moved to Malaysia after fleeing India in 2016.
He was spotted in Qatar ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
(ian)
