Tele-evangelist Zakir Naik’s petition to be heard by Allahabad high court

The Allahabad high court will be hearing a petition filed by Mumbai-based television evangelist Dr Zakir Naik on May 16 in a three-year old case where the preacher is alleged to have given speeches on television, exhorting Muslims to take up terrorism.

Naik, who heads a group called the Islamic Research Foundation, Mumbai, is alleged to have given the speech in Bangalore. The talk was relayed on his ‘Peace’ television channel on January 21, 2006.

A complaint was filed against him by Mudassar Ullah Khan, a resident of Chhatapur, Jhansi in 2008. Khan alleged that apart from the speech, pamphlets were also distributed in Jhansi condemning those who follow the Hadis or the book on the sayings and doings of Prophet Mohammed.

In April, the additional district sessions judge at Jhansi issued summons asking Naik to appear before the court on May 12. Naik approached the Allahabad high court for a stay on the summons. Advocate Shahid Ali Siddiqui, who represents the complainant, said, “Dr Naik did not appear before the court on May 12 and the court issued a non-bailable warrant against him.”

Advocate Nazrul Islam Zafri who is representing Naik in the high court said, “The complaints made against Dr Naik are frivolous and malicious. It has been filed just to defame him.”

The case will be heard by Justice RD Khare of Allahabad high court.

Meanwhile, groups like Raza Academy have written to the Mumbai police commissioner saying that Naik should not be allowed to leave the country.