Once again, controversial Islamist preacher Zakir Naik hits the headlines for his visit to Pakistan. Here, Zakir Naik interacts with Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and a heated public exchange with a Pashtun girl, who has caused widespread outrage.
Zakir Naik’s Pakistan Baggage Controversy
Zakir Naik recently became a headline when the national carrier of Pakistan, PIA, refused to waive extra baggage charges for him on his last visit. It is reported that he arrived with 500-600 kg extra luggage besides standard baggage, which he was said to have demanded to be waived entirely, to which PIA offered him a 50% discount. In one of the viral video pieces, Naik expressed his frustration, stating, “If any guy sees me in India, even a non-Muslim fellow will allow entry free. This is India.”
Even though he was termed a state guest when he visited Pakistan, his experience did not appear to be what he may have hoped for. He went on the brink of criticizing the carrier’s handling of him, a contrast to what he said would have been the case in India, where even Hindu officials might have allowed him free passage for the excess luggage he had. His remarks evoked debate in cyberspace and even underlined the tensions underlying his rapport with both India and Pakistan.
Zakir Naik’s Other Ongoing Controversy
Naik also created a controversy when he sought to comment on the issue of paedophilia in religious societies at another public talk in Karachi. A Pashtun girl questioned Naik as to why societal ills and issues like paedophilia continued to be there in the regions observing very tight religious practices. Naik brushed her answer off by saying she should “apologize to God” before he could respond.
The Zakir Naik news moment appeared to the critics as a spreading matter of gaslighting and flippant with severe societal concerns. Since Naik essentially defends the teachings of his religion, his approach often comes under fault, and the interpretations of Islamic texts are used to justify scandalous positions.
Zakir Naik Preaching and Legal Issues
Zakir Naik is no stranger to controversy. Born in India, the Islamic televangelist has earned himself multiple charges, ranging from money laundering and terror funding to hate speech, among others. Zakir Naik is believed to have left India in 2016 and has lived in Malaysia on permanent residency ever since. Despite such efforts by the Indian government to extradite him-it, it failed to get an Interpol red notice and continues to spread his ideology across the world.
Zakir Naik’s IRF and his channel Peace TV have been banned in several countries like India, the UK, Canada, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka due to relevant issues of radical content.
Zakir Naik Family
He is married to Farhat Naik, an Islamic education propagator and IRF Women’s Wing president. They have appeared quite frequently in public during lectures and public visits, showing how committed this couple is to spreading the teachings of Islam.
Zakir Naik Age
His age is 57 years old as of 2023. He was born on October 18, 1965. Zakir Naik has been a presenter and speaker on comparative religion for quite some time, although his lectures have generally been passed to advance his interpretation of Islamic tenets. While Naik has written several books on religion, Zakir Naik’s books are still controversial for their extremism and strong views.
Zakir Naik Pakistan and Across the Globe
Naik’s latest visit to Pakistan, during which he intended to stay for nearly a month, has remained controversial. He has been quoted in the past saying that people living in Pakistan have a greater chance of entering Paradise (Jannat) than the people of America, which statement had even drawn criticism from Pakistanis.
His Pakistan visit continues, and most people need clarification in their responses regarding his preaching and public speeches. His anti-India stance from one corner and cases pending against him in the Indian courts and not letting him remain out of the international focus, along with the simmering tension between the two countries over his stay in Pakistan.
The Zakir Naik PIA incident and his subsequent interaction have ignited a firestorm in the old debate regarding controversial preaching, the fugitive status related to legal issues, and the perception of his ideas within Pakistan and beyond. And with public debates raging, Naik’s future actions will attract attention and controversy.
FAQ:
Why did Zakir Naik run away from India?
Naik fled India in 2016 due to money laundering and hate speech allegations.
Is Zakir Naik Sunni or Shia?
He disclaims to be an exponent of any sect in Islam.
Is Zakir Naik a Millionaire?
Yes, his net worth explains why he is a millionaire.
Where is Zakir Naik today?
Naik has been living in Malaysia since 2016.
