Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, March 31: The Tribunal in its order upheld the Union of India proclamation of declaring religious preacher Zakir Naik’s Islamic Research Foundation a “unlawful association” under the harsh anti-terror law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act or UAPA.
The Tribunal stated in its ruling that it agrees with Solicitor General Tushar Mehta’s argument on behalf of the Central Government, and that the information presented on the record has also proven that the respondent Association is engaging in illegal activities.
“The convincing and persuasive evidence placed on record, this Tribunal is of the view that there are sufficient reasons and causes for declaring the Islamic Research Foundation as an unlawful association and consequently, this Tribunal confirms the Notification dated 15 November 2021, issued by the Government of India for the imposition of ban on IRF for a period of five years with effect from the date of the aforesaid notification,” reads the Tribunal order.
In a notification dated March 30, 2022, the Ministry of Home Affairs declared that the Tribunal, in exercising its powers, issued a decision on March 9, 2022, confirming the declaration made in the notification.
The Islamic Research Foundation had previously said that the Central Government’s decision declaring the Foundation an unlawful association is unjustified and unjustified, as well as totally arbitrary and illegitimate, and amounts to a misuse of the Act’s severe provisions.
“Zakir Naik’s statements and speeches are objectionable, subversive that promotes enmity, hatred among religious groups,” the Home Ministry said on extending the ban on Islamic Research Foundation.
Notably, Zakir Naik fled to Malaysia in 2016, just before the National Investigation Agency (NIA) started a probe against him.
