"Extolling Bin Laden, Zakir Naik proclaimed all Muslims must take up arms"

The notification makes it clear that Naik was attempting to provoke and radicalise youth not just in India, but abroad as well to commit acts of terror.

Bengaluru, Nov 18 He promoted enmity, disharmony and hatred on the grounds of religion. If urgent steps are not taken then there is every possibility that many youth would get motivated and radicalise to commit acts of terror, the centre said while imposing a ban on the Dr Zakir Naik run Islamic Research Foundation.

A top official in the ministry for home affairs told OneIndia that the ban was absolutely necessary. There were no two ways about it and had the ban not been imposed, then one could have expected the worst, the official also said.

The notification makes it clear that Naik was attempting to provoke and radicalise youth not just in India, but abroad as well to commit acts of terror. The ideology that he preached is against India's pluralistic and secular social fabric of India and it may be viewed as causing disaffection against the country, the notification also read.

The government based on investigations conducted both by the Mumbai and Kerala police says that there were several instances of conversion reported. One of the 21 persons who went missing in Kerala was alleged converted by the members of the IRF, investigations had shown. Naik has also been accused of making derogatory statements against Hindu Gods.

The government further states that Naik extolled terrorists such as Osama Bin Laden. He also justified suicide bombings and proclaimed that every Muslim must be a terrorist or take up arms.

OneIndia News