• FIFA World Cup: Qatar invites fugitive Zakir Naik to preach Islam, sparks controversy

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    FIFA World Cup: Qatar invites fugitive Zakir Naik to preach Islam, sparks controversy

    Since 2017, Zakir Naik has been living in exile in Malaysia as a runaway fugitive after the Indian government filed...


    Digital Desk: The controversial televangelist Zakir Naik, who is facing many cases of money laundering and hate speech in India, has been invited by Qatar to deliver lectures preaching Islam ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2022.


    India banned Naik's Islamic Research Foundation, accusing him of encouraging and supporting its followers in "creating or attempting to foster feelings of animosity, hatred, or ill-will between different religious communities and groups."


    One of the claims levelled against him by Indian officials is that he was involved in coerced conversions. Based on the evidence, a chargesheet was filed against him for converting people of other religions to Islam.


    Since 2017, Zakir Naik has been living in exile in Malaysia as a runaway fugitive after the Indian government filed money laundering charges against him.


    Despite having permanent residency in Malaysia, Naik has been banned from giving speeches in the country in 2020 for the sake of "national security."


    He was charged with making inflammatory remarks and questioned by local authorities about his aim to incite a breach of peace by making comments about Hindu and Chinese groups living in the Muslim-majority country.