INTERPOL yesterday rejected India’s request for a red corner notice on controversial Muslim televangelist Dr Zakir Naik but India’s unperturbed National Investigation Agency (NIA) said it would file a new request soon.

India’s red corner notice request, filed in May, was rejected by Interpol on the grounds that the Indian police had not file any formal charges against the preacher, New Delhi Television Ltd reported.

The NIA only filed a charge sheet against Zakir, said to be in hiding in Malaysia, in October for allegedly inciting youngsters to carry out terror activities and giving hate speeches.

“The commission finds that, at this stage of the proceedings, the issuance of a red notice for the applicant’s arrest with a view to his extradition is premature,” the Commission for the Control of Interpol’s Files reportedly said in its October decision.

Meanwhile, Zakir’s spokesperson claimed that Interpol had rejected India’s red corner notice due to the lack of evidence, failure of Indian authorities to follow the rule of law, and political and religious bias.

“Interpol has cancelled a red corner notice on Dr Naik and instructed its worldwide offices to delete all data from files on him, citing political and religious bias among other reasons,” the spokesperson was quoted as saying in India’s English news channel Times Now yesterday.

“Interpol contended that there was a severe lack of evidentiary basis, a failure by Indian authorities to follow due process of law, political and religious bias that formed the basis of such a notice, and lack of international interest,” he said.

Zakir said in a video message that he welcomed Interpol’s decision, saying: “(I) am relieved but would be more relieved if my own Indian government and Indian agencies gave me justice and also cleared me of all the charges.” 

He is wanted by the Indian authorities for alleged terrorism and money laundering. His Islamic Research Foundation has been outlawed in India.

He fled India in July last year after terrorists in Bangladesh claimed they were inspired by his speeches, prompting authorities to look into his activities. 

Zakir, whose Indian passport was revoked in July this year, claimed Indian authorities were unfairly targeting him because he was Muslim. He said his speeches only promoted peace.

Banned from the UK in 2010, the preacher has citizenship in Saudi Arabia and was granted permanent residency in Malaysia five years ago.

The 52-year-old has stirred controversy with his extreme brand of Islam, in which he recommended the death penalty for homosexuals and those who abandon Islam, according to media reports. – December 18, 2017.