KUALA LUMPUR: Televangelist Dr Zakir Naik has denied allegations that he is a terrorist and had instead characterised such people as being terrorists themselves.
In an interview with Malay daily Sinar Harian at its Karangkraf office in Shah Alam, the 50-year-old founder of the Islamic Research Foundation and Peace TV told, “I have never done a rebellion or conducted terrorist acts against humans all my life. I only deliver a message of peace to people.”
“There are certain quarters who do not want peace in this world. So, they make baseless allegations against me,” he added.
Speaking on 5-year ban on Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) and prosecution on terrorism charges, Dr. Naik said, “I ask the Indian government to prosecute me in an international court or in Malaysia.”
National Investigation Agency (NIA) has summoned Zakir Naik to appear before it on March 14 in connection with the ongoing probe.
The NIA has booked Naik, IRF and IRF Educational Trust and others under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, criminal conspiracy (120-B) and Section 153 A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony.
With PTI inputs