Centre extends ban on Zakir Naik's Islamic Research Foundation for 5 years

The Indian government has extended the prohibition on the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), a group led by extremist preacher Zakir Naik, for a further five-year term, labeling it a "lawless organization" under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). This announcement, made by the Union home ministry on Friday, alleges that the IRF and its members—especially Naik, who fled India in 2016 and now resides in Malaysia—were promoting discord and hostility among religious communities, which they deem a threat to national unity and security.

The ministry claims that speeches and statements made by Naik were "incendiary and subversive," suggesting that he was inciting religious hatred and encouraging violent acts among his followers, both within India and overseas. The IRF allegedly disseminated fundamentalist ideologies through international media channels, including satellite television, the internet, print, and social media platforms.

If the IRF's disruptive activities are not promptly halted, the ministry warns that the organization could reconstitute its previously convicted factions, continue propagating communal disharmony, undermine India's secular character, spread anti-national sentiments, back terrorism, and foster separatism. The IRF's ban was first imposed in November 2016 for five years and subsequently renewed in November 2021 for an additional five-year period. The latest extension comes as the current authorization is set to expire on November 14, 2026.

Naik, a prolific speaker who has been accused of promoting religious extremism, has faced criticism and scrutiny over the IRF's ties to radical activities.