New Delhi/Mumbai
A number of Muslim organisations have extended support to Islamic Preacher Dr. Zakir Naik, and termed the media campaign against him as an attempt to bully Indian Muslims.
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Markazi Jamiat-e-Ahle Hadees Hind, All India Milli Council, Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), Urdu Journalist Forum and a host of top clerics and Muslim scholars and community leaders have said that the attempt of certain Government officials and some sections of the media to make international fame, Dr. Zakir Naik a subject of negative propaganda is deplorable. They said that it was against the constitutional freedom to practice faith and freedom of speech and expression.
Founder of Mumbai-based IRF Dr Zakir Naik is under the scanner following revelations that two of the five young militants who massacred 20 hostages, including an Indian, at a popular cafe in Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka on July 1, drew their inspiration from his speeches
Dr. Naik denies the allegations saying he did not agree to the notion that the terrorists were inspired by his speeches.
The Government of Maharashtra and Union Home Ministry have ordered a probe into his speeches, writings and other materials. In a statement released to the media, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind has
Vice President of Jamaat, Mr. Nusrat Ali averred that Dr. Zakir Naik, like hundreds of other renowned religious personalities of the country, has been using all possible media channels to present the Islamic creed of ‘monotheism’, ‘prophethood’ and ‘hereafter’ to the citizens of this country as well as the entire world in a dignified, cultured and scholarly manner, within the Constitutional parameters since many years now and commands an international following of millions of people who listen to his lectures with keen interest, these lectures being bereft of any constitutional or moral violation whatsoever.
It is surprising that all of a sudden his services are brought to question and attempts are being made to further deteriorate the already volatile communal atmosphere prevalent in the country.
It would not be out of place to consider this issue a part of the chain of political opportunism in line with Dadri, Atali, Kairana, status of Minority Institutions, Uniform Civil Code etc.T
“Bjp – Shiv Sena led Government of Maharashtra is misusing its administrative powers in the name of enquiries and investigations to harass and bully moderate Muslim Organizations”, Shahanshah Jehangir, National Secretary of Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) said in a statement released to media.
The SDPI on Saturday while condemning the media campaign against Dr. Zakir Naik, called it a conspiracy hatched up by the saffron brigade supported by its cohorts in the media to malign the popular preacher.Mahmood Darybadi, President of the All India Milli Council, Mumbai also extended support to Dr. Zakir Naik and slammed the media for running shameful campaign against him. Asghar Ali Imam Mehdi, General Secretary, Markazi Jamiat Ahle Hadees Hind in a signed statement slammed the media campaign against Dr. Zakir Naik and termed it a deliberate attempt to divert attention from government’s failure to address the key issues facing the country.