Tuesday, June 20, 2017

Lebanon: Activists aim to block 'extremist’ Muslim preacher Zakir Naik of India


“Zakir Naik is an extremist preacher known to spread hate speech that attacks non-Muslims and moderate Muslims alike, and he has been banned from entering many countries,”

Photo credit: Adnan Abidi / Reuters
Times of Ahmad | News Watch | US Desk
Source/Credit: RT News
By RT News | June 19, 2017

In 2015, Saudi Arabia awarded him the ‘Service to Islam’ prize, calling him “one of the most renowned non-Arabic-speaking promulgators of Islam.”

Activists in Lebanon have launched a campaign to ban Indian preacher Zakir Naik from entering the country, saying his extremist views do not belong in Lebanon.

Naik, who is believed to have become a Saudi citizen last month, is wanted for questioning in India in connection with his alleged role in inspiring one of the 2016 Dhaka terrorist attackers, and over money laundering allegations, which he denies.

The Salafist Islamic preacher and televangelist has over 16 million Facebook followers, while the Peace TV channel he founded is said to reach 100 million viewers.

Lebanese activists have threatened legal action, saying Naik’s views may be in violation of laws regarding sectarian incitement. A petition calling for Naik to be banned from entering Lebanon was started on Avaaz, however, it has only gathered a little over 100 signatures.

“Zakir Naik is an extremist preacher known to spread hate speech that attacks non-Muslims and moderate Muslims alike, and he has been banned from entering many countries,” lawyer and activist Khaled Merheb told The New Arab.

UK Prime Minister Theresa May denied Naik’s entry to the UK in 2010 as Home Secretary, citing his extreme views. “Numerous comments made by Dr Naik are evidence to me of his unacceptable behavior,” May said at the time.

Naik maintains that his comments have been taken out of context, and that he has condemned Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) and political and religious extremism. He has referred to ISIS as the “anti-Islamic State of Iraq and Syria."

In the past, Naik said LGBT people are suffering from a mental problem as a result of watching pornographic moves, and that chopping off thieves’ hands is not a bad thing. He also reportedly said “If bin Laden is fighting enemies of Islam, I am for him,” and said 9/11 was an “inside job.”

In 2015, Saudi Arabia awarded him the ‘Service to Islam’ prize, calling him “one of the most renowned non-Arabic-speaking promulgators of Islam.”


Read original post here: Lebanon: Activists aim to block 'extremist’ Muslim preacher Zakir Naik


This content-post is archived for backup and to keep archived records of any news Islam Ahmadiyya. The views expressed by the author and source of this news archive do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of Times of Ahmad. Times of Ahmad is not an organ of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, nor in any way associated with any of the community's official websites.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Thank you for your comments. Any comments irrelevant to the post's subject matter, containing abuses, and/or vulgar language will not be approved.

Top read stories during last 7 days

Disclaimer!

THE TIMES OF AHMAD is NOT an organ of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, nor in any way associated with any of the community's official websites. Times of Ahmad is an independently run and privately managed news / contents archival website; and does not claim to speak for or represent the official views of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. The Times of Ahmad assumes full responsibility for the contents of its web pages. The views expressed by the authors and sources of the news archives do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Times of Ahmad. All rights associated with any contents archived / stored on this website remain the property of the original owners.