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Indian 'hate preacher' Zakir Naik charged with money laundering | Indian 'hate preacher' Zakir Naik charged with money laundering |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Indian prosecutors have charged controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik with money laundering. | Indian prosecutors have charged controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik with money laundering. |
Mr Naik, who lives in exile, is accused of acquiring $28m (£21m) worth of criminal assets, a claim he denies. | Mr Naik, who lives in exile, is accused of acquiring $28m (£21m) worth of criminal assets, a claim he denies. |
Indian authorities have also accused him of spreading hate speech and inciting terrorism. | Indian authorities have also accused him of spreading hate speech and inciting terrorism. |
Mr Naik, 53, promotes a radical form of Islam on the channel Peace TV. It is banned in India but has an estimated 200 million viewers worldwide. | Mr Naik, 53, promotes a radical form of Islam on the channel Peace TV. It is banned in India but has an estimated 200 million viewers worldwide. |
Broadcasting from Dubai, Peace TV is owned by the Islamic Research Foundation, a group headed by Mr Naik. | |
Other countries have banned the channel - including Bangladesh, where it is accused of inspiring one of the gunmen behind a 2016 cafe attack in Dhaka in which 22 people were killed. | Other countries have banned the channel - including Bangladesh, where it is accused of inspiring one of the gunmen behind a 2016 cafe attack in Dhaka in which 22 people were killed. |
India's Enforcement Directorate (ED), which investigates financial crimes, filed the charges against Mr Naik in a court in Mumbai on Thursday. | India's Enforcement Directorate (ED), which investigates financial crimes, filed the charges against Mr Naik in a court in Mumbai on Thursday. |
It told the court that it had identified assets worth millions of dollars as proceeds of crime. | It told the court that it had identified assets worth millions of dollars as proceeds of crime. |
Mr Naik's "inflammatory speeches and lectures have inspired and incited a number of Muslim youths in India to commit unlawful activities and terrorist acts", ED told the court. | Mr Naik's "inflammatory speeches and lectures have inspired and incited a number of Muslim youths in India to commit unlawful activities and terrorist acts", ED told the court. |
The agency has accused him of using funds from "dubious or suspicious sources" to buy property in India and finance events where he made "provocative speeches". z | |
Mr Naik says the money was obtained legitimately. | Mr Naik says the money was obtained legitimately. |
Who is Zakir Naik? | Who is Zakir Naik? |
Mr Naik's fundamentalist approach to religion has long been controversial. | Mr Naik's fundamentalist approach to religion has long been controversial. |
Many detained al-Qaeda followers have reportedly told officials that he was a huge influence on them. | Many detained al-Qaeda followers have reportedly told officials that he was a huge influence on them. |
He was banned from entering the UK in 2010 for "unacceptable behaviour", and because of his speeches, by then-home secretary (and now Prime Minister) Theresa May. | He was banned from entering the UK in 2010 for "unacceptable behaviour", and because of his speeches, by then-home secretary (and now Prime Minister) Theresa May. |
However, it was in July 2016 when he really came to international attention, after a deadly attack on the Holey Artisan cafe in Dhaka. | However, it was in July 2016 when he really came to international attention, after a deadly attack on the Holey Artisan cafe in Dhaka. |
The Bangladeshi media claimed that one of the gunmen had been inspired by his speeches. Later that month the Bangladeshi government banned Peace TV. | The Bangladeshi media claimed that one of the gunmen had been inspired by his speeches. Later that month the Bangladeshi government banned Peace TV. |
In November 2016, India's counterterrorism agency filed an official complaint against Mr Naik, accusing him of promoting religious hatred and unlawful activity. | In November 2016, India's counterterrorism agency filed an official complaint against Mr Naik, accusing him of promoting religious hatred and unlawful activity. |
Mr Naik moved to Malaysia in 2017. | Mr Naik moved to Malaysia in 2017. |
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