Radical Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, who to put it mildly, is currently in trouble has reportedly now started to play the victim card while dealing with the Interpol.
According to reports, Naik has opposed NIA’s request to the Interpol for a red-corner notice which was issued on the basis of terror and money laundering charges against him. Red corner notice is a notice issued by the Interpol to seek the location or arrest a particular individual with a view to extract him/her.
Now in order to oppose this, Naik has alleged that the case against him is related to the religious persecution of minorities in India. He also reportedly played victim by claiming that Indian agencies were unfairly targeting him because he is a Muslim.
NIA had requested the Interpol to issue this red corner notice in May and the agency also revoked Naik’s passport in July after he failed to join their probe. Naik is currently believed to be shuttling between Saudi Arabia and Malaysia and he has reportedly been granted citizenship by the former. The NIA had also conveyed the information about the revocation to Interpol which then is believed to have notified all the countries. Naik fled India on 1st July 2016.
Naik also tried to paint a bright picture of him by claiming that his speeches only promoted peace and had never advocated terror and jihad. He also claimed that by banning his NGO Islamic Research Foundation and preventing him from delivering speeches on Islam, India was stifling his freedom of expression. He also alleged that he might be tortured in Indian jails.
Such portrayal of innocence and victimhood might not take him far as there are already serious allegations about him indulging in dangerous and illegal activities. It was reported in the past about how his foundation may have funded 300 people with ISIS links and that he also allegedly laundered about Rs 100 crore through his family and NGO. Reports have also suggested that he was running a conversion factory in India and was pushing people towards Wahhabism.