Activists Seek To Block Zakir Naik’s Entry Into Lebanon; His Views Don’t Belong Here, They Say

Zakir Naik may have the door shut in his face if a campaign by activists in Lebanon to ban the Indian preacher succeeds. Saying his extremist views do not belong to their country, the activists have threatened legal action as they fear his views may contravene laws regarding sectarian incitement.

A petition demanding Naik to be banned from entering Lebanon was started on Avaaz, a global web movement to bring people-powered politics to decision-making everywhere (as stated on its website). However, the campaign has only gathered a little over 100 signatures.

Naik is wanted for questioning in India in connection with his alleged role in inspiring one of the 2016 Dhaka terrorist attackers, and over money laundering allegations, which he denies. The Salafist Islamic preacher and televangelist is the founder of Peace TV channel which is said to reach 100 million viewers.

“Zakir Naik is an extremist preacher known to spread hate speech that attacks non-Muslims and moderate Muslims alike, and he has been banned from entering many countries,” lawyer and activist Khaled Merheb told The New Arab.

UK Prime Minister Theresa May denied Naik’s entry to the UK in 2010 as Home Secretary. Naik, who is believed to have become a Saudi citizen last month, was awarded the ‘Service to Islam’ prize in 2015 by Saudi Arabia, calling him “one of the most renowned non-Arabic-speaking promulgators of Islam.”