Delhi HC justifies Modi govt’s decision to ban Zakir Naik’s IRF

New Delhi, Mar 16: In a blow to internationally acclaimed orator Dr Zakir Naik, the Delhi High Court on Thursday dismissed the petition of his NGO Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) against the immediate ban and freezing of bank accounts.

The Delhi High Court said the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has sufficient materials to back ban imposed on the IRF. “Immediate action against Zakir Naik’s IRF appears to have been taken in interest of integrity and public order maintenance,” said the Delhi High Court.

Zakir Naik’s NGO Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) was banned by the government for five years in November last year. The ban on IRF was enforced under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and approved at a meeting of the Union Cabinet.

Zakir Naik has repeatedly condemned all acts of terrorism in his public speeches. However, Home Ministry claims that Zakir Naik made many provocative speeches and had engaged in terror propaganda.

The Maharashtra Police have also registered criminal cases against Zakir Naik accusing him of involving in radicalisation of youths and luring them into terror activities.

He came under the scanner of the security agencies after Bangladeshi newspaper ‘Daily Star’ reported that one of the perpetrators of the July 1,2016 terror attack in Dhaka, Rohan Imtiaz, ran propaganda on Facebook in 2015 quoting Naik. However the newspaper had taken down the report later.

Last month, The Enforcement Directorate (ED) issued summons to Zakir Naik and the IRF under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Zakir Naik, in a 2,000-word open letter, urged the Modi government to be “fair” in its investigation and be “truthful with facts”.