No grounds for extradition: Zakir Naik's lawyer
Kuala Lumpur, July 8 (IBNS): Zakir Naik’s lawyer has said there was no requirement for the Malaysian government to extradite controversial preacher Zakir Naik on the request of India.
The lawyer, Shaharudin Ali, told Free Malaysia Today that Malaysia had not gone against a mutual legal assistance agreement with India nor any extradition treaty with India.
“I also disagree with the notion that Malaysia has to blindly extradite any person named by a requesting state,” he told Free Malaysia Today.
Prime Minister of Malaysia Dr Mahathir Mohamad on Friday said controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik will not be deported to India.
He said Naik will not be deported unless he creates problems in his nation.
"As long as he is not creating any problem, we will not deport him (and at the same time) because he has been given a permanent resident status," Dr Mahathir was quoted as saying by New Straits Times.
According to media reports, Naik has also met the PM.
However, details of the meeting are still not known.
Earlier, NDTV reported, citing a Malaysian policeman as saying that Naik will be flying out of the country on Wednesday night. “He will be taking a flight to India today I believe,” the police officer is quoted as saying.
Naik is wanted in India for inciting communal violence through his hate speeches. A criminal case was filed against him by the NIA following an order by the Union Home Ministry which also banned his Mumbai-based Islamic Research Foundation (IRF).
Naik came under the scanner of security agencies after it was found that two ISIS terrorists involved in the 2016 Dhaka cafe terror attack were his followers and inspired by his sermons.
Before the MEA came up with the statement, Zakir's Malaysian lawyers denied being served with any extradition notice.
“It is not true. We have not received any extradition notice,” Shaharuddin Ali, who represents Naik, told Free Malaysia Today, adding that a formal request to deport his client must come from the home ministry or the foreign affairs ministry.
He said the notice should not come from the police or the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
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