India’s most wanted fugitive, Zakir Naik, has been living in Malaysia since 2018. Recently, when Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim visited India, reporters asked about the extradition of Zakir Naik. He said he is open to it if India provides evidence.
Here are the 18 pieces of evidence against Zakir Naik that prove his involvement in crimes in India:
About Zakir Naik
Zakir is the founder and president of the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) and Peace TV. The Indian government banned IRF in 2016 for radicalizing Muslims. He left India in 2016. There is an ongoing sedition case against him, and a red corner notice has also been issued against him. His TV channel is banned in India, Bangladesh, Canada, Sri Lanka, and the United Kingdom. India’s NIA revealed in October 2018 that 127 terrorists who were arrested for links with ISIS said they were inspired by Zakir Naik’s speeches.
Here is the evidence against him for his involvement in brainwashing people for terrorism:
Evidence No. 1
2006 – Aurangabad Arms Haul Case
Feroz Deshmukh, librarian of Zakir’s IRF, was arrested by the Mumbai ATS in connection with LeT operatives, Rahil Ahmed Sheikh, and Zabiuddin Ansari, alias Abu Jundal. Both were co-accused in the Aurangabad arms haul case and fled to Bangladesh to escape Indian security agencies. Later, Abu Jundal moved to Pakistan and taught Hindi to the November 2008 Mumbai terror attackers, including Ajmal Kasab. It was found that Rahil and Abu Jundal used to meet regularly at Naik’s IRF in Mumbai’s Muslim-dominated Dongri area. In the arms haul case, the police seized 43 kg of RDX, 16 AK-47s, 3,200 cartridges, and more than 50 hand grenades.
Evidence No. 2
2006 Mumbai Train Bombings
In 2016, Zakir Naik admitted that Rahil Sheikh, involved in the 2006 Mumbai train bombings, was working as a volunteer for his organization, the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF). However, he claimed that he did not know Rahil personally and that Rahil had been removed from his office. Nearly 200 people died in the bombing attack, and the investigation revealed that the bombers were influenced by Naik’s preaching.
Evidence No. 3
2007: Glasgow Airport Terror Plot
Bangalore engineer turned terrorist, Kafeel Ahmed, tried to blow up Glasgow Airport in 2007. He was burned while ramming a jeep into the airport and later died.
Evidence No. 4
2011: Bengaluru Cricket Stadium Blast
Indian Mujahideen operative Muhammad Zafar Siddiqui was arrested in 2011 in connection with the Chinnaswamy Stadium blast case. He was killed in 2012 and was reportedly influenced by Zakir Naik’s speeches.
Evidence No. 5
2016: Dhaka Attacks
On the night of July 1, 2016, five militants took hostages and opened fire at the Holey Artisan Bakery in Gulshan Thana, Dhaka. A terrorist involved in the brutal killings followed Zakir Naik’s Facebook page and was influenced by his speeches. The terrorist had posted sermons by Naik on social media, where Naik urged “all Muslims to be terrorists.” Soon after, the Bangladesh government banned the broadcast of Naik’s Peace TV channel.
Evidence No. 6
2016: ISIS Terrorist Arrested in Hyderabad
IS Hyderabad module head Mohammad Ibrahim Yazdani told the National Investigation Agency (NIA) during his interrogation that his inclination towards violent outfits working to establish Shariah law was partly due to Naik. Yazdani attended one of Naik’s congregations in 2010 as a “volunteer” and listened to his sermons, staying in Mumbai for the entire 10-day camp organized by Naik-led Islamic Research Foundation (IRF).
Evidence No. 7
2016: Burhan Wani
India’s most wanted Kashmiri terrorist Burhan Wani, who was killed by Indian security forces, was also inspired by Zakir Naik. In his last post, he wrote, “Support Zakir Naik.”
Evidence No. 8
2017: The Kerala Story
A 25-year-old woman approached the Kerala High Court, alleging that she was forcibly converted after her marriage to a Muslim and taken to Saudi Arabia for sex slavery. She claimed that the plan was to sell her to ISIS terrorists and that she was forced to attend Islamic classes and watch videos of Zakir Naik.
Evidence No. 9
2020: Rohingya Terrorist Groups
The Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) unearthed the nefarious agenda of a Malaysia-based terror outfit that wanted to carry out an attack on India. A 20-year-old woman named Sadiya Anwar Shaikh, from Pune, who wanted to be a suicide bomber, revealed to intelligence officials in 2015 that she was inspired by radical Islamic terror sympathizer Zakir Naik.
Evidence No. 10
2019: Conspiracy to Kill 40,000 Hindus in Temple
Abu Hamza and his associates, inspired by Zakir Naik’s speeches, planned to kill 40,000 Hindus at Mumbeshwar Temple in Mumbai by adulterating temple prashad with poison. ATS found many videos of Zakir Naik on their phones.
Evidence No. 11
2019: 127 ISIS Sympathizers Influenced by Zakir Naik
The NIA arrested 127 ISIS sympathizers from across India, and during interrogation, it was found that the internet was systematically exploited by ISIS sympathizers for terrorist purposes, with all of them being influenced by Zakir Naik’s speeches.
Evidence No. 12
2020: Delhi Blast
In August 2020, Delhi police arrested Abu Yusuf, who was planning a bomb blast in Delhi on August 15, 2020, as revenge for the CAA and Ram Temple judgment. He revealed that he used to watch Zakir Naik’s videos for 9 hours daily.
Evidence No. 13
2022: Singapore Blast
An 18-year-old ISIS terrorist, Md Irfan, was planning to carry out three deadly attacks in Singapore. He was apprehended by Singapore’s Internal Security Department (ISD). He was radicalized after watching Zakir Naik’s videos.
Evidence No. 14
2022: Link with PFI
In 2022, the Government of India banned PFI and arrested 170 members. Investigations revealed that many members were linked to ISIS and were inspired by Zakir Naik’s preaching.
Evidence No. 15
2022: Gorakhpur Temple Attack
On April 3, 2022, a chemical engineering graduate from IIT Mumbai attacked the Gorakhpur temple, injuring two policemen. What caused an IITian to become a terrorist? Zakir Naik. Ahmed Murtaza Abbasi confessed that he was inspired by watching Zakir Naik’s videos.
Evidence No. 16
2023: India’s Most Wanted Saquib Nachan
One of India’s most radicalized terrorists, Saquib Nachan, who had been convicted twice, was released from jail and again became involved in terrorist activities. He has killed 12 Hindus so far. What drives him? Zakir Naik’s preaching.
Evidence No. 17
2023: Kerala Train Fire
In 2023, Shahrukh Saifi tried to burn an entire train going to Kannur in Kerala. Three people were killed in this fire. He told Kerala Police that he was continuously following Zakir Naik’s videos.
Evidence No. 18
2023: MP Terror Plot
In May, MP ATS arrested 16 terrorists along with Professor Salim, who was associated with the terrorist organization HUT. Salim was originally named Saurabh but was inspired by Zakir Naik and converted to Islam. He wanted to go to Syria and become a suicide bomber.
Who is more dangerous?
The terrorist who plants bombs and kills people or the preacher who brainwashes ordinary people through his Islamic preaching and has converted thousands of normal people into terrorists? The day we answer this question, we will be able to eliminate the root cause of terrorism.
The Malaysian PM wanted evidence, and we have provided it. Complete government documents are available with Indian authorities.
Will Malaysia extradite Zakir Naik to India now?
