Controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, facing multiple probes over his alleged provocative speeches, on Friday came up with a “strange” logic that “suicide bombings” were permitted when they were used as a “tactic of war” and dismissed the allegations that he had ever justified the killing of innocent people by way of suicide bombings.
In response to a query at a video conference that he addressed on Skype from Mecca-Medina in Saudi Arabia, Naik also said he has no plans to return to India this year. “As per my plans I will come back to the country next year. I was not supposed to come back to India this year, I have realised it is easier to answer queries on Skype or video conferencing. I am not running away but I have been very busy meeting important personalities. I am available to authorities but as per my plan I will come back next year,” he added.
Describing himself as a “messenger of peace”, Naik accused the Indian media of “blowing his remarks out of context”. “You say that you have seen my videos wherein I have advocated killings by way of suicide bombings. This is misinformation... I challenge you to show even one unedited video wherein I have justified suicide bombings in which innocent people are killed,” said Naik.
Referring to the footage of some of his speeches shown by the media following the Dhaka carnage, he said, “Indian media is running a trial against me because of unverified reports. Half sentences being shown, clips being doctored and statements being shown out of context to malign me.”
When asked about one of his speeches in which he said that suicide bombing is permitted by Islam, Naik said, “If suicide bombing is carried out in which innocent people are killed.., it is haraam in Islam. And it is second major sin in Islam. Most Islamic scholars have condemned suicide bombings in which innocent people are killed”
Naik, however, came up with a strange logic when he said: “But, when the question was asked: Is it permitted in some casesIJ Some scholars believe that if it is used as a tactic of war and it was used in the past some journalists told me: come on Zakir where it has been used. In World War-II, Japan used suicide bombing as a tactic of war”.
“What these scholars say, if it is used as tactic of war in which the leader of the army gets permission from the head of the state and it is beneficial for the Army to win over the enemy, then in such cases suicide bombings are permitted. Otherwise in all suicide bombing cases where innocent people are killed in public places, including markets and buses, all these acts are condemned,” the controversial Islamic preacher said.
On Dhaka attackers having been inspired by him and the Bangladesh Government blaming him, he said, “I have many fans in that country who watch me on Peace TV. I have attracted 14 million followers on Facebook of which 25 per cent are from Bangladesh...Even he (the Dhaka terrorist) could be my fan. I challenge the media to show me an official source in Bangladesh who said I have inspired them… The media has picked it up without confirmation”.
When his attention was drawn to the investigations being conducted by the Mumbai Police, ATS and NIA into his various activities, Naik said: “No Government authority has approached us with any question. So far I have had no problem with the Indian Government or the police… I am always ready for any kind of cooperation. But I want to be questioned by an unbiased mind.”