NIA probes if Zakir Naik's NGO had role in 22 people joining ISIS

NEW DELHI: Investigative agencies are probing if televangelist Zakir Naik had a role in 22 people from Kerala joining the Islamic State in Afghanistan. The 13 men, 6 women and 3 children had met at Peace International School — allegedly supported by Naik’s NGO — before they ‘disappeared’.

Investigators are probing linkages between the Kozikode-run Peace International School and Naik’s NGO, the Islamic Research Foundation, that has come under the scrutiny after many arrested youths claimed that they were inspired by Naik’s speeches. The NIA, which took over the probe last month, recently questioned Yasmin Ahmed (29), who was arrested a few weeks ago from New Delhi’s IGI airport, when she was about to board a flight to Afghanistan along with her four-andhalf-year-old son. Yasmin was asked to come directly to Afghanistan to join the group. Her questioning, according to NIA, revealed she had met Abdul Rashid, the leader of the group, at Peace School, where she was an English teacher, along with her first husband. Yasmin told the NIA that she married Abdul Rashid ‘over phone’ on May 3.

Rashid, now believed to be in Afghanistan, was in Kerala then. During this wedding ceremony, Shihas acted as guardian of the bride while other co-accused, Ashfak and Yahya, acted as witnesses, the NIA said, quoting Yasmin’s interrogation reports.

Rashid also directed Yasmin to join a pro-IS Telegram app group run by an UK couple, who according to Yasmin had recently converted to Islam, and were spreading messages in support of IS.