Islamic preacher Zakir Naik won't be deported, clears Malaysia PM

"We had made a formal request for extradition of Zakir Naik, an Indian national living in Malaysia. It was made as per the extradition treaty we have in place with Malaysia," External Affairs Ministry (MEA) Spokesman Raveesh Kumar said here.

Zakir Naik (Image courtesy: PTI/File)

Putrajaya: Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Friday said controversial Indian Islamic preacher Zakir Naik who is wanted in India for terror-related activities and hate speech will not be sent back. "As long as he is not creating any problem, we will not deport him because he has been given permanent residency status," Mahathir reportedly said at a news conference in administrative capital Putrajaya outside Kuala Lumpur. India's request to extradite controversial Naik is under "active consideration" of the Malaysian authorities, the government said on Thursday. "We had made a formal request for extradition of Zakir Naik, an Indian national living in Malaysia. It was made as per the extradition treaty we have in place with Malaysia," External Affairs Ministry (MEA) Spokesman Raveesh Kumar said here. "At this stage, all I can say is that our request is under active consideration of the Malaysian authorities. Our High Commission in Kuala Lumpur is in regular touch with relevant authorities in Malaysia." Naik is facing various charges, including for hate speech and money laundering through Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) that he founded. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had first registered a case against the evangelist under anti-terror laws in 2016 for promoting enmity between religious groups. On Wednesday, Naik in a statement said that he had no plans to come to India till he felt safe from "unfair prosecution". "When I feel that the government will be just and fair, I will surely return to my homeland," he has said. (With additional information from IANS)