Breaking India Through ‘Peaces’? Islamic Educationist Now Under ED Lens For Alleged Terror Financing, Indoctrination

Peace International School Chairman MM Akbar, a Salafi preacher, who was under the scanner when an IS operative claimed he supported Jihad, is reported to have been quizzed by the Enforcement Directorate, Janmabhumi says.

The school’s curriculum did not follow the syllabus set down by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) or the State Council Educational Research and Training (SCERT), Kerala. It was instead compiled by an Islamic educational institution based out of Mumbai.

The chain of schools came under the radar in 2016 when 21 suspected terrorists owing allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) fled the country. Some of them had links with various Peace schools in Malappuram, Palakkad, Kochi and Kasargod.

Reports also suggest that the interrogation by enforcement directorate is a part of the ongoing investigations on Akbar. The directorate had collected information regarding the source of funding, the quantum of foreign donations and bank documents.

There are nearly 10 schools operating under the Peace International. However, they had been reported to use textbooks that are not prescribed by the state education department. Following this, Akbar was arrested from Hyderabad Airport on 25 February 2018 on charges of spreading communal hatred and inculcating religious extremism among children.