Zakir Naik continues to be engaged in fund raising
Zakir Naik contacted Abdullah Ali al Emadi, a prominent Qatari national and one of his old associates, and requested $500,000 for his charity organisations, ET has learnt. Qatari national Mohammad Siddique Al Emadi is another close associate who helps Naik reach out to wealthy local businessmen and charity organisations to raise funds.
by Dipanjan Roy Chaudhury
NEW DELHI: Controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, an Indian fugitive currently based in Malaysia, continues to raise funds from around the world for his radical preaching activities, ET has reliably learnt.
Zakir Naik contacted Abdullah Ali al Emadi, a prominent Qatari national and one of his old associates, and requested $500,000 for his charity organisations, ET has learnt. Qatari national Mohammad Siddique Al Emadi is another close associate who helps Naik reach out to wealthy local businessmen and charity organisations to raise funds, ET has also learnt.
Counter-terrorism experts said Pakistan was using its close relationship with Turkey and Qatar to provide funding to Zakir Naik.
Naik allegedly maintains several bank accounts in the Gulf, including in Qatar and the UAE, and uses them to transfer the funds to associates and to his network, sources told ET.
Naik came under the security radar after at least two terrorists who were responsible for the attack on Dhaka’s Holey Artisan Bakery in July 2016 were found to be inspired by his teachings.The terrorists of Bangladeshi origin, Nabris Islam and Rohan Imtiaz, confessed to having been inspired by Naik.
Following the attack, Naik’s Peace TV was banned in India and Bangladesh. The Bangladesh government also banned Naik’s Peace Mobile handsets in 2016, imported by Beximco group and marketed as “Islamic mobile handsets.”