PM Modi Raises Issue Of Extradition Of Islamic Preacher Zakir Naik During His Meeting With Malaysian Counterpart

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (5 September) met with his Malaysian counterpart Mahathir Bin Mohamad in Vladivostok, Russia. During his meet with Mohamad, PM Modi raised the issue of extradition of controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, who is a fugitive in India and has been living in Malaysia, reports Times of India.

While briefing the mediapersons on the meeting, India’s foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale said that PM Modi took up the matter with Mohamad during their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF).

In response to a question on the outcome of the meeting regarding India’s request to Malaysia for Naik’s extradition, Gokhale said that the two countries have decided that their officials will be in touch on the matter.

According to the report, sources said that Malaysian Prime Minister responded positively after PM Modi raised the issue with him. They added that the matter will now be dealt with by the officials of the two countries. The officials will discuss the process through which Naik cab be brought back to India at the earliest to face the law of the land.

The fugitive Islamic preacher is wanted in India for serious charges of terrorism after his name emerged in connection with a terror attack in Dhaka in July 2016.

Naik has been living in Malaysia since 2017 after fleeing from India. The previous Malaysian government had granted him permanent residency. Although, the current Mahathir administration has barred the controversial Islamic preacher from delivering public speeches, it is yet to take any decision on sending him back to India.