Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on June 10 said that the country has a right to not extradite Islamic hate preacher and fugitive Zakir Naik. Claims by Zakir Naik that he would not get a fair trial in India have been taken into consideration, Mahathir added.
He was quoted saying, “ Zakir in general feels that he is not going to get a fair trial (in India).”
Zakir Naik, who reportedly left India in 2016 moved to Malaysia where he was granted permanent residency.
Also read – Zakir Naik: From preaching terror to amassing wealth
Mahathir Mohamad went on to compare the situation with that of Australia which had refused to extradite Malaysia’s former police commando Sirul Azhar Umar, who was sentenced to death for the murder of a Mongolian model.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had filed a detailed charge sheet in India against terror accused Zakir Naik responsible for preaching terror.
Also read: Islamic hate preacher Zakir Naik slapped with charge sheet by Enforcement Directorate
The charge sheet which has been filed against Naik under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) claims that properties worth Rs 50.46 crore have been attached by the ED and has been used as a tool for money laundering.
Investigations have also revealed that most of the inflammatory speeches Zakir Naik delivered were during the peace conferences organised by the Islamic Research Foundation in Mumbai during the period between 2007 and 2011.