Zakir Naik's Islamic Research Foundation to be banned soon

NEW DELHI: In fresh trouble for the non-governmental organisation promoted by controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, the home ministry has found dubious links between the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) and Peace TV, an international Islamic channel accused of propagating terrorism.

The ministry may soon seek Cabinet approval to a proposal to ban IRF under the anti-terror law, officials said.

According to the proposal, which is also based on inputs from Maharashtra Police, Naik, who heads the IRF, has allegedly made many provocative speeches and engaged in terror propaganda.

Maharashtra Police has also registered criminal cases against Naik for his alleged involvement in radicalisation of youths and luring them into terror activities, said an official. Naik also transferred IRF’s foreign funds to Peace TV for making “objectionable” programmes, the official said.

Most of the programmes, which were made in India, contained alleged hate speeches of Naik, who had reportedly “urged all Muslims to be terrorists” through Peace TV, officials said.