The ongoing probe by Intelligence agencies into the activities of controversial Salafist preacher Zakir Naik has revealed that he is part of a new trend of regional network of cross-border radicalisation mechanism in South Asia. Naik has, on his part, blamed the Indian media for being biased against him and has launched a multinational online campaign “Support Zakir Naik” seeking to portray himself as innocent and a victim at the hands of Government of India alleging that it has “dictatorial” policies against the Muslims.
Through his campaigns, Naik is also trying to keep his following in different countries intact besides keeping the donors in good humour by projecting that if a cleric like him can be targeted, what to talk about common Muslims.
Apart from Naik, other radicalisation modules are targeting the Indian youth through online programmes as is evident by busting of a number of terror modules of international jehadi groups like ISIS and AQIS. Recently, the NIA had revealed that a Filipino girl was involved in radicalisation of young people in Hyderabad from foreign locations. A letters Rogatory has also been sent by the NIA to the Philippines seeking information about her activities. She was radicalised in the West Asia while working there and she converted from Christianity to Islam at the behest of the ISIS.
The probe suggests that a new trend has emerged wherein the gullible youngsters are radicalised by provocative speeches as well as from materials provided online from a cross-border syndicate of NGOs, madrassas and clerics, sources said.
Intelligence agencies have found that Naik is running a network-centric radicalisation regime creating a network of donors and establishing a reach among the masses through sermons on his television channel besides a complex interlinkage with like-minded preachers/clerics and followers in the region.
Facing the heat following multiple probes into his activities here, Naik has launched a multi-pronged strategy to counter the possible fallout and relevance in the country, the agencies maintain. He has also created a group of people in Saudi Arabia to create an impression that the Government and the media in India are targeting him.
Saudi Arabia is a major donor for his activities and his team is lobbying to ensure grants to his organisation are not halted. The campaign there is aimed at consolidating his standing with some Sheikhs who fund him and fugitive members of Bhatkal (who were associated with the Indian Mujahideen) who are supportive of his hard-line preachings.
Through his campaign in Saudi Arabia, he is also portraying that if a cleric of his stature is “harassed” then imagine the fate of an average Muslim in India, sources pointed out adding he projects such a scenario in areas influenced by ISIS in Turkey and Syria.
Apparently, he is also trying to seek support from ISIS and it is suspected that he might be trying to get funding from the terrorist group at a later point in time, they claimed.
In the ASEAN region, in countries like Malaysia and Indonesia also a “Support Zakir Naik” campaign is being run through the social networking platforms. He is also said to have conveyed through local clerics to the Governments there that he be given a chance to represent himself in case India seeks a detailed dossier on him. A “Support Zakir Naik” campaign is also being run in Pakistan through Twitter.
The dangers of the cross-border radicalising modules are unraveling as a group of young motivated boys that perpetrated an attack in Dhaka in Bangladesh earlier this month was radicalised by Naik.
Filipino girl Karen Aisa Hamidon conducted online radicalisation of youth for joining ISIS in Hyderabad while remaining abroad.
likewise, cleric Anjar Shah Qasmi, arrested earlier this year by the Delhi Police, was allegedly engaged in radicalisation and recruitment of youth for foreign terror groups like AQIS and leT. A section of people in Malaysia was being influenced by Qasmi who was operating from Bengaluru.
A counter-terrorism expert said there is need to move beyond cooperation between security agencies of one country with other nations and create a network of nationalist and moderate Muslim organisations and scholars to counter the influence of networked radicalisation modules. As an example, a network of Sufi scholars in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh can play a major role in checking the attraction of the youth to join fanatic groups, he said, adding networking among the radical clerics coupled with advancement in communication technologies is further complicating the security situation.