Malaysia's Mahathir says Modi 'made no request' for Muslim televangelist Naik's extradition in meeting

Malaysia's Mahathir says Modi 'made no request' for Muslim televangelist Naik's extradition in meeting
Malaysia's prime minister says Indian leader Narendra Modi made no request to extradite preacher Zakir Naik when the pair met in Russia earlier this month.
2 min read
17 September, 2019
Zakir Naik is wanted by India over alleged money laundering and supporting terrorism [Getty]
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Tuesday said no request was made for the extradition of controversial Muslim preacher Zakir Naik during a meeting with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.

The two leaders had met at an economic forum in Russia earlier this month, amid repeated attempts from New Delhi to detain Naik, a popular televangelist currently living in Malaysia.

Indian authorities have repeatedly attempted to obtain an Interpol Red Corner Notice for Naik, who is accused of money laundering and supporting terrorism.

Malaysia has rejected requests for Naik's extradition due to fears that he will not receive a fair trial in India, however, Mahathir has previously described the preacher as an "unwelcome guest".

"Not many countries want him. I met with Modi. He didn't ask me for this man," Mahathir told BFM Malaysia radio on Tuesday morning.

The 94-year-old leader also reaffirmed that Naik is no longer able to deliver public talks in Malaysia following accusations of racial incitement against him.

Last month, Naik landed in hot water after making remarks calling for the country's Chinese population to "go back".

He also upset Malaysia's Indian Hindu minority by allegedly suggesting that they support Hindu nationalist leader Modi more than Mahathir .

Read More: Is Saudi Arabia turning its back on Zakir Naik?




"Well, he's not a national of this country. He has been given, I think by the previous government, permanent residence status. A permanent resident isn't supposed to make any comments on this country's systems and politics. He has breached that. He is now not allowed to speak," Mahathir said.

"We are trying to find some place he can go to but at the moment, no one wants to accept him," he added.

Naik is currently based in Malaysia, where he has lived for the last three years. The 53-year-old claims there is a campaign against him, fuelled by the Hindu nationalist agenda of India's Modi government. 

But Muslim-majority Bangladesh also took action against Naik's Dubai-based Peace TV network, following a deadly 2016 attack in Dhaka, saying the perpetrators may have been inspired by his sermons.

He has denied all charges and distanced himself from accusations of supporting terrorism, including by criticising the Islamic State group.