Zakir Naik's counter-offensives on the West

by Suraiyya Aziz
July 7, 2010

http://www.weeklyblitz.net/852/zakir-naiks-counter-offensives-on-the-west

Dr. Zakir Naik, 44-year old Indian born physician-turned Islamist clergy has started hour-long propaganda against United Kingdom, Canada and other Western nations, as Britain and Canada recently refused his entry to those countries.

Zakir Naik was almost an unknown name to global community even five years back, when his sermons or so-called lectures were mostly available on MP3 format on various Islamist and Jihadist websites. He also was invited as guest speaker at ARY Television and Q-TV [Quran TV] very seldom.

Being inspired by Ahmed Deedat, another radical Mullah, Zakir Naik established an organization named 'Islam Research Foundation' in India and started linking with numerous Islamist organizations and groups in the world. He gradually became a known named amongst a few Arab rulers as well as established hidden relations with notorious Islamist militancy group – Al Qaeda. He [Zakir] also being inspired by his contacts, started making offensive comments on Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism and other religious beliefs in the world and continued to claim that "Islam is the only religion in the world, which is endorsed by Allah".

He criticized women leadership and even gave his own way of interpretation of Bible, Vedas and Quran thus terming world famous tennis players like Serrina Williams, Maria Sharapova or Sania Mirza as "perverts". He also made similar comments about Indian actor Aishwarya Rai, Bipasa Basu and many others.

Commenting on them he said: "these women make themselves more susceptible to rape by wearing revealing clothes."

He even made objectionable comments against Pope Benedict XVI as well Torah, Bible, Ramayana, Veda and all other religious scriptures in the world, except Quran.

Then he was offered US$ 28 million from various Afro-Arab sources for establishing an 'Islamic' television channel. This was the beginning for Zakir to become a well known name in the world, by establishing 'Peace TV', a 24-hour television channel promoting hate speech, Jihad and encouraging conversion of non-Muslims to Islam. According to information, Dr. Zakir Naik was able to get more than 15,000 people only in India converted into Islam just during 2007-2009. It is largely alleged that, this man was targeting mostly poor classes in the society and were getting them converted with cash incentives.

Though Peace TV continues its broadcast without any advertisement, it is learnt that, millions of dollars are contributed by Muslims in the world for continuing this Islamist channel. Most of such 'donations' are from Islamic Zakaat [Charity] fund of the Muslims as well several Arab Sheikhs. He continued to be invited in various Muslim countries and accorded special press coverage thus giving him another platform of spreading message of hatred against other religions. So far, he has delivered more than a thousand public talks in the world.

Dr. Dr. Naik recommends the death penalty for homosexuals and for apostasy from the faith, which he likens to wartime treason. He calls for India to be ruled by the medieval tenets of Sharia law. He supports a ban on the construction of non-Muslim places of worship in Muslim lands and the Taliban's bombing of the Bamiyan Buddhas. He says revealing clothes make Western women "more susceptible to rape." Not surprisingly, Dr. Naik believes that Jews "control America" and are the "strongest in enmity to Muslims."

Dr. Zakir Naik though operates his Peace TV from United Arab Emirates; he continued to deposit millions of dollars that he received from various Muslim individuals and institutions in several bank accounts in Britain. Account numbers of these accounts were regularly shown on Peace TV, while they were calling upon people to donate.

Finally some sanity seems to have prevailed on the British legislators. Britain for far too long has been a breeding ground for would-be terrorists due to its lax laws. Therefore the tough stance taken by the new British home secretary Thersea May to ban the entry of self proclaimed Muslim preacher Dr. Zakir Naik in United Kingdom comes as a breath of fresh air. The British authorities were quick to refuse admission to Mr. Geert Wilders, a respected member of the Dutch parliament on account of stoking inter-community tensions. However this is the first time that Dr. Naik; a hate monger and a radical terrorist supporter has been denied a British visa.

Although Zakir Naik makes it clear that he does not advocate specific acts of terrorism; however his inflammatory speeches makes it abundantly clear where his sympathies lie. He seems to have a personal grudge against the west in general and a specific revulsion towards United States. This is what he had to say when questioned about Bin Laden:

"Beware of Muslims saying Osama Bin Laden is right or wrong, I reject them... we don't know. But if you ask my view, if given the truth, if he is fighting the enemies of Islam, I am for him. I don't know what he's doing. I'm not in touch with him. I don't know him personally. I read the newspaper. If he is terrorizing the terrorist, if he is terrorizing America the terrorist, the biggest terrorist, he's following Islam. I am with him. Every Muslim should be a terrorist."

This particular statement is an instigator for Muslim youth to commit different acts of terrorism. The American terror suspect Mr. Najibullah Zazi arrested for planning suicide attacks on the New York subways was reportedly inspired by the provocative and hate filled speeches of Zakir Naik on YouTube.

Many of the Jihadist blogs are praising Dr. Zakir Naik for what he is doing "in the interest of Islam". Here is one of the articles titled 'We love you, Dr. Zakir Naik', which has been published in a blog named Saudi Life.

While Jihadist and Islamist media are spreading wings almost everyday, under active patronization of seen and unseen elements in the Muslim world or Muslim communities in the non-Muslim countries, anti-Jihadist Medias are suffering from the risk of closure due to acute financial constraint. Though people in the world mostly advocate anti-Jihadist ideologies, they too are either reluctant or lazy in extending possible support and cooperation to anti-Jihadist media in the world. With the case of Dr. Zakir Naik and his Peace TV as well as recent appearance of Al Qaeda's online newspaper named Inspiration, it is extremely important for anti-Jihadist people in the world to immediately take proper initiatives in extending every possible help towards anti-Jihadist media in the world. Otherwise, the conquest of Jihadist and Islamist media will continue to expend while anti-Jihadist Media will gradually face extinction.

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