Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohammed on Friday poured cold water on India’s expectations that controversial Islamic preacher
Zakir Naik could be extradited, saying the controversial cleric had a permanent resident status in Malaysia and would not be deported to India as long as he did not create any problem.
The Malaysian PM’s put down, a day after the ministry of external affairs said New Delhi’s request for Naik’s extradition was under “active consideration”, came across as a snub. However, Indian government officials said media speculation of the preacher’s impending extradition was inaccurate.
“As long as he is not creating any problem, we will not deport him because he has been given permanent residency status,” Mahathir said of the preacher who had charge sheeted by the Indian
National Investigation Agency for radicalising the youth for terror activities.
It is not usual for the head of a government to come forward in defence of someone who is “wanted” in a friendly country. The Malaysian PM’s stepping out for Naik was attributed to the influence that the hardline cleric enjoys among sections of Muslim communities overseas.
India had apparently asked for Naik’s extradition in January, under a bilateral treaty. Naik, 52, has in statement described the media reports as “totally baseless and false” and said he has no plans to return to India until he felt “safe from unfair prosecution”.
Naik’s organization, Islamic Research Foundation, has been banned in India. Bangladeshi authorities held him responsible for influencing one of the gunmen who had attacked a bakery and cafe in Dhaka in 2016 that resulted in the death of 29 people.
MEA had made a formal request to Malaysia to deport Naik, wanted for his “incitement” of terror and the alleged involvement of charities controlled by him in conversions through entrapment.
Mahathir’s public remarks are, however, a setback for Indian efforts. “At this stage, our request is under active consideration of the Malaysian side. Our high commission in Kuala Lumpur is in regular touch with the relevant Malaysian authorities in this regard,” MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar had said at a press briefing on Thursday.
Naik has been in the cross hairs of the authorities for some time, but it’s getting almost impossible to get him back under ordinary procedures.