Governor extends Zakir Naik’s IRF ban for another 5 years

New Delhi : Nov 16, 2016 : .

The Ministry of Home Affairs has extended the ban on Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) founded by controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik for an additional five yearsA notification issued by the MHA on November 15, said that Islamic Research Foundation (IFB) has been indulging in activities prejudicial to the security of the country and have the potential of disturbing peace and communal harmony and disrupting the secular fabric of the country.

The MHA issued a notification on November 15 stating that Islamic Research Foundation had been engaging in activities which were prejudicial to security and could disrupt the secular fabric and peace in the country "In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (37 of 1967), the Central Government declared the IRF as an unlawful association, vide, notification of the Government of India in the Ministry of Home Affairs number SO 3460(E), dated the 17th November, 2016," the MHA notification reads.The MHA notification states that "In exercising the powers conferred under sub-section (1) of Section 3 of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967, 37 of 1967, the Central Government declared IRF an illegal association vide notification of Government of India number SO 3460(E) dated 17th November 2016,".

The MHA notification also said that the Central government is of the opinion that the IRF and its members, particularly, the founder and president of the IRF Dr Zakir Naik has been encouraging and aiding its followers to promote or attempt to promote, on grounds of religion, disharmony or feeling of enmity, hatred or ill will between different religious communities and groups which are prejudicial to the integrity and security of the country.MHA notifications also stated that Dr Zakir Naik, founder of IRF, was assisting its supporters to encourage or try to promote religion-based disharmony, hate, or ill will among different religious groups and communities.

This is detrimental to the security and integrity of the country.The Central government further observed that the unlawful activities of the IRF are not curbed and controlled immediately, it will take the opportunity to continue its subversive activities and re-organise its activists who are still absconding.

Further, the Central government observed that if the illegal activities of IRF cannot be curbed or controlled immediately it will continue to subversive activities as well as reorganise those who remain absconding.The government also apprehended that the IRF cadre and supporters may disrupt the secular fabric of the country by polluting the minds of the people by creating communal disharmony, propagate anti-national sentiments, escalate secessionism by supporting militancy and undertake activities which are prejudicial to the sovereignty, integrity and security of the country and it was necessary to extend the ban on IRF for five years more.

It was also discovered that IRF members and their supporters could disrupt the secular fabric by imitating militancy, creating discord among the citizens, and propagating anti-national sentiments.The ban on IRF was extended for an additional five years.

The Centre had declared the IRF an unlawful organisation for the first time on November 17, 2016 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (37 of 1967) for a period of five years.On November 17, 2016, the Centre declared IRF illegal organization for the first-time under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention Act), 1967 (37, 1967) and for five years.The ban was to expire on Tuesday.On Tuesday, the ban would expire.

Zakir Naik, an Indian born controversial Islamic preacher had fled to Malaysia in 2016 when the police lodged a case against him for his anti- national activities including promoting hatred among the religious communities through his speeches.Zakir Naik was an Indian-born controversial Islamic preacher who fled India to Malaysia when the police filed a case against the suspect for anti-national activities, including encouraging hatred within the religious community through his sermons.ams/skp #Governor #Zakir #Naiks #Delhi.