Controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik has denied he had urged Muslims to be terrorists.
Naik is under the scanner after reports that his speeches inspired terrorists who attacked a Dhaka restaurant last week that killed 20 people.
Facing backlash for defending slain Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in one of his speeches, Naik said the video of the speech was doctored.
“No Muslim should terrorise human beings. I was misquoted earlier. I only said Muslims should be terrorists to anti-social elements. The video of my speech on Osama is doctored,” Naik told News18 network on Wednesday.
“It is totally illogical to say that I promote terrorism. Not a single investigative agency says Dr Zakir Naik promotes terrorism. The home ministry is most welcome to go through all my speeches,” Naik told the network.
“I inspire many people because I have a large following. These people might have been inspired by me but I don’t know them personally. I fear media and politicians because they might malign my image. There are people who are using my photographs and misquoting me to defame me. I welcome any investigation against me,” he added.
Speaking to The Indian Express on July 5, Naik had said: “I have said that the Qur’an explicitly says in Chapter 5 that when a person kills another human being, of any religion, it is as though he has killed the whole of humanity. And when a man protects another from being killed, it is as though he has saved all of humanity… Why does the media give only half of my quote? I have said that for a thief, a policeman is a terrorist. And people should be terrorists against anti-social elements. The media misrepresents what I said, Io i stopped saying this at my lectures.”
Asked about defending bin Laden, Naik said: “I don’t know him. How can they say I am supporting him when I simply say I cannot comment on him because I don’t know him and I have not done any research on him? The Qur’an does not allow me to speak about a third person regarding whom I have done no research or study.”
Referring to demands in several countries to ban him, Naik said some Hindu “fanatics” are behind such calls. He said a quarter of his followers on Facebook as well as attendees at his lectures comprise non-Muslims. At lectures, he said, non-Muslims are encouraged to be the first to ask questions. “When I have clarified their doubts, these non-Muslims have a positive view of Islam, and this threatens the fanatics,” he said.
Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh is under fire for sharing the stage four years ago with Naik.
Singh in 2012 attended a conference organised by Naik, where the Congress leader had called the controversial religious leader a “messenger of peace who can help bring communities together in India.” Pictures of him hugging Naik are now being circulated on social media under the title “friend” of Naik.