Zakir Naik banned in India for hate speech, will preach Islamic sermons in FIFA World Cup in Qatar in 2022

Zakir Naik, an Indian Islamic preacher who would provide religious lectures at the FIFA World Cup 2022, has reportedly landed in Qatar, according to a report by Alarabia News. Several social media messages have been quoted by the news source. Naik left India in 2016 and is currently being investigated for money laundering and using hate speech.

According to the source, preacher Sheikh Zakir Naik is in Qatar for the World Cup and will deliver several religious lectures throughout the competition. 

India banned the Islamic Research Foundation of Naik in late 2016. He was charged with inciting and supporting its adherents in spreading animosity or hatred between various religious organisations and groupings.

According to filmmaker Zain Khan, Dr. Zakir Naik, one of the most well-known Islamic scholars of our time, has arrived in Qatar for the FIFA World Cup. Naik is in Qatar as an invited dignitary, according to several verified Twitter accounts. Several credible accounts have stated that he will preach in order to spread the Islamic faith at the FIFA World Cup 2022.

One of the most popular Islamic Scholars of our time Dr Zakir Naik has reached #Qatar for the #FIFAWorldCup !#Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/WJWCXascSj

— Zain Khan (@ZKhanOfficial) November 19, 2022

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) designated the IRF an unlawful association and made it illegal for five years in March 2022. The MHA claims that Naik's statements are inappropriate since he has been applauding well-known terrorists and suggesting that every Muslim should be a terrorist.

Dr. #ZakirNaik who’s invited by #Qatar ???????? for #FIFAWorldCup, supports “Suîcide Operations” (especially against #Jews). He quotes the banned #MuslimBrotherhood preacher Salman Audah—as “one of the great scholars of Islam” who permitted the attacks. pic.twitter.com/aSlu9STW6A

— Zahack Tanvir (@zahacktanvir) November 19, 2022