Dr. Zakir Naik, known for his advocacy of terrorism and his status as an Indian Islamic scholar, has paid a courtesy visit to Nigeria.
Reports had it Naik visited the country on the invitation of Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abu Bakar, the Sultan of Sokoto in Nigeria.
The Sultan invited him to tour and hold lectures in three Nigerian cities—Sokoto, Abuja, and Ilorin—for four days, alongside his son, Dr. Zakir Naik.
The Indian Islamic Scholar made the visit known via his X handle, where he mentioned his interaction with Group Captain Abbas Hashim, the Military Airport Commander at Abuja Airport, Nigeria.
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It’s worth noting that he faces money laundering charges filed by Indian prosecutors.
While living in exile, he vehemently denies the accusations of amassing criminal assets valued at $28 million and stands accused of spreading hate speech and inciting terrorism. Dr. Naik, 53, is known for promoting a radical form of Islam on his banned-in-India channel, Peace TV, which boasts an estimated 200 million viewers worldwide.
Mr. Naik’s strict and uncompromising interpretation of religion has consistently stirred controversy.
Numerous individuals detained for their affiliation with al-Qaeda have allegedly cited him as a significant source of influence.
His entry into the United Kingdom was prohibited in 2010 due to his “unacceptable behavior” and the content of his speeches, a decision made by the then-home secretary, who now serves as Prime Minister, Theresa May.
Nonetheless, it was in July 2016 that he garnered global notoriety, following a tragic assault on the Holey Artisan cafe in Dhaka.