Muslim groups rally behind Zakir Naik

Several Muslim groups in Chennai on Saturday staged a protest in support of controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik and said the launch of a probe against him was against the Constitution.

Expressing solidarity with Naik, the protesters criticised the Union and the Maharashtra governments for trying to ‘stifle’ the voice of a man of ‘peace and harmony.’

The protesters, including the Social Democratic Party of India, said Article 25 provides one the right to profess, practice and propagate religion and it should not be infringed upon.

Saying, ‘Don’t distort Article 25 of the Constitution,’ the protesters raised slogans like ‘Don’t insult a world preacher,’ ‘We support Zakir Naik’.

They also displayed placards, blaming the BJP-led Union government for ‘religious intolerance and prejudice.’
Naik is currently in Saudi Arabia.

He is under the scanner of state and central agencies for his alleged terror-inciting speeches, following the Dhaka café terror attack.

Saying that no probe agency had approached him, Naik said that he would cooperate with any agency it approaches him.

Also, calling himself ‘a messenger of peace’ in a video conference with mediapersons in Mumbai on Friday, he condemned all terror attacks.

He rejected charges that his sermons inspired terror activity and claimed that he has never encouraged anyone to kill innocents.