Controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, 52, who is wanted in India over several allegations of terror-related activities and hate speech is living in Malaysia. However, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on July 6 has refused to send him back to India.
“As long as he is not creating any problem, we will not deport him because he has been given permanent residency status,” said Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad at a news conference in administrative capital Putrajaya outside Kuala Lumpur.
According to the Foreign Ministry, Malaysia was reviewing India’s request to extradite him.
“At this stage, our request is under active consideration of the Malaysian side. Our High Commission in Kuala Lumpur is in regular touch with the relevant Malaysian authorities in this regard,” said Raveesh Kumar, spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs at a press briefing.
In a July 2008 TV broadcast, Zakir Naik suggested that Al-Qaeda was not responsible for flying hijacked airliners into New York’s World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, killing almost 3,000 people.
Zakir, who is the founder of the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) is wanted in India for allegedly conducted terror-related activities and hate speech.
India and Malaysia have an existing extradition treaty.
