Zakir Naik’s lawyer denies reports of his deportation from Oman

Amidst the numerous reports that radical Islamic preacher, Zakir Naik may be deported to India, his lawyer has denied the claims.

News reports had said that Naik would be deported from Oman to India. The reports also cited unnamed officials and said that the Indian Intelligence agencies are in touch with the authorities in Oman.

Naik has been living in Malaysia for the last six years. Malaysia has however refused to deport him on the ground that he has committed no crime in that country. He has however been banned from giving speeches in the interest of national security. The ban was imposed in the year 2020.

Naik's lawyer, Mubin Solkar has however said that these reports are false. Quite by The Quint, Solkar said that the media reports are false.

A report in the Times of Oman said that Naik was invited to Oman for a lecture series by the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs.

''The Ministry represented by the Department of Introducing Islam and Cultural Exchange in the Iftaa office is organising a lecture by the preacher Dr. Zakir Naik,'' a statement by the ministry read.

The statement also said that the the title of the lecture is 'The Holy Quran' and scheduled to take place on March 23. On March 25 another lecture has been scheduled by the ministry in cooperation with the Sultan Qaboos University.

Earlier in November 2022, Qatar had invited Zakir Naik to give a religious sermon at the FIFA World Cup 2022.

Zakir Naik a wanted terrorist in India had fled the country in the aftermath of the July 2016 Dhaka cafe blast. He has been accused by the Indian agencies of spreading hate, funding terror and money laundering. His organisation has also been accused of being involved in forced conversions.

Naik's videos have gone viral and have been instrumental in radicalising several youth.
In the aftermath of the Mangaluru blasts in 2022, the bomber, Mohammad Shariq, had confessed to the police that he was influenced and radicalised by watching Naik's videos. He also said that he had shared these videos with other accused.

Naik also runs a television channel, Peace TV. Due to the radical content that is aired on it, the channel has been banned in India, Canada, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom.

Naik's channel has a reach of over 100 million viewers most of whom regard him as an exponent of the Salafi, a movement within the Sunni community.