Zakir Naik's Islamic Research Foundation to challenge ban

After it was found that Naik's NGO was radicalising youth and was inspiring them into terror activities, a ban was imposed

Mumbai, Nov 17: The Dr Zakir Naik run Islamic Research Foundation will challenge the ban imposed on it before the Central Government Tribunal. Before the tribunal the NGO would argue that the application of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) is illegal and hence the ban could not have been imposed.

The government had banned the NGO under the UAPA for a period of five years. The NGO says that it would await the Centre's Gazzette notification regarding the ban following which the same would be challenged before the tribunal.

Last month the government put IRF Educational Trust, promoted by Zakir Naik, under prior permission category, thus preventing it from receiving foreign funds without getting nod from the central government.

In a gazette notification, the Home Ministry said that on the basis of records available and reports received from intelligence agencies, it found that the IRF Education Trust has violated various provisions of the Foreign Contribution Regulations Act (FCRA) 2010.

"Now, therefore, the central government in exercise of powers conferred by sub-section (3) of section 11 of the FCRA 2010, hereby specifies that the IRF Education Trust shall obtain prior permission of the central government on each occasion before accepting any foreign contribution in accordance with the provisions of section 12 of the Act and rules made thereunder," the notification said.

The move came after different investigations found Naik to be "involved" in utilising funds meant for his NGOs for alleged radicalisation of youth and "inspiring" them into terror activities, official sources said.

Government was also in the process of cancellation of the FCRA registration of Islamic Research Foundation, another NGO promoted by Zakir Naik, and a final show cause notice to the organisation had been issued.

The Government had also planned to declare IRF as an unlawful association under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and a nod from the Union Cabinet is awaited for it.

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