Centre extends ban on controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik’s IRF for 5 more years
New Delhi, November 13: The central government has extended the ban on controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik’s Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) for five years under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The current ban was to expire on November 14, 2026. The Home Ministry issued a notification on Friday declaring the IRF as an unlawful organisation.
The Home Ministry said in an ex-post that this decision has been taken in accordance with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s zero tolerance approach towards terrorism and anti-national activities. The organisation led by Zakir Naik has been involved in anti-India activities, including inciting communal hatred and promoting terrorism.
According to the notification, the central government had previously declared the IRF as an unlawful organisation on November 17, 2016, and November 15, 2021. The tribunal constituted under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act also confirmed these bans. The current ban period was to expire on November 14, 2026.
The Home Ministry stated in the notification that in the government’s opinion, the IRF and its members, particularly the organization’s founder and president, Dr. Zakir Abdul Karim Naik, have been promoting enmity and hatred between different communities on religious grounds. Zakir Naik’s speeches and statements promoted enmity and hatred between different religious communities. These speeches incited youth of a particular religion in India and abroad to engage in terrorist activities.
The notification stated that if the organization’s activities are not curbed, it may reorganize its absconding activists, spread communal disharmony, and promote separatism. The government declared the IRF an unlawful organization under subsections (1) and (3) of Section 3 of the UAPA, setting the ban period for five years.
