Dr Zakir Naik, the controversial Muslim preacher from India, is being deported today, according to sources but his Malaysian lawyers have denied being served with any extradition notice. “It is not true. We have not received any extradition notice,” Shaharuddin Ali, who represents Naik, told FMT, adding that a formal request to deport his client must come from the home ministry or the foreign affairs ministry.He said the notice should not come from the police or the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
“As at this moment, we still have firm instructions to challenge any action to extradite our client to India. We need to be served with the papers. “If you got the papers, we want to see them,” said Shaharuddin.Meanwhile, Naik was quoted by India’s Republic TV as saying that news of his extradition was “totally baseless and false”.
“I have no plans to come to India till I feel safe from unfair prosecution. Insha Allah when I feel that the government will be just and fair, I will surely return to my homeland,” he said.Indian media outlets today reported that Naik, under investigation in India over allegations of money laundering and spreading extremism, “will be taking a flight to India today”, according to the report by Times Now.
NDTV meanwhile reported that Naik would be “out of the country tonight”, quoting Bukit Aman’s counter-terrorism officer Mohammed Raby Abu Bakar.Naik is accused of giving provocative speeches, which were cited as a reason by Bangladesh for an attack in Dhaka which left 22 people dead.India’s National Investigation Agency is also probing Naik’s NGO, Islamic Research Foundation, over allegations of money laundering and promoting ‘unlawful’ activities.
He was given permanent residency status in Malaysia by the previous Barisan Nasional government
The Ministry of External Affairs had made a formal request to Government of Malaysia for his extradition this year in January and has been pursuing it through diplomatic channels. “We have seen media reports regarding the deportation of Zakir Naik by the Malaysian Government. We are yet to receive official confirmation in this regard from Malaysian authorities,” an official in the Ministry told The Hindu.
The Spokesperson of the Ministry of Home Affairs too said there was no communication from the Malaysian government on Dr. Naik’s return to India.