British media are reporting on the activities of Indian Muslim cleric Zakir Naik who has been permitted to enter the United Kingdom for evangelist activities on his interpretation of Islam.
Religious extremist Zakir Naik has repeatedly called for denying human beings their universal human rights of freedom of conscience, calling those who leave Islam as “traitors.” The London Times has quoted Zakir Naik as stating that “People who change their religion should face the death penalty.” On May 30, 2010, Zakir Naik was speaking at a Maldives event where a man publicly renounced Islam in the form of a question to Zakir Naik, and Zakir Naik again called for the death penalty for those Muslims who leave Islam and who propagate another faith. The man asking Zakir Naik the question was taken into custody in the Maldives and is expected to be prosecuted.
In a widely broadcast video, Zakir Naik has called for the death penalty for those who leave Islam and promote another religion as “apostates.” In the broadcast, Zakir Naik states “if a Muslim becomes a non-Muslim and propagates his/her new religion, then it is as good as treason. There is a ‘death penalty’ in Islam for such a person. In many countries, the punishment for treason is also death. If an army general discloses his army’s secrets to another country, then there is a ‘death penalty’ or life imprisonment for such a person according to the laws of most of the countries. In the broadcast, Zakir Naik also states that the death penalty for leaving Islam (“apostasy”) should also apply to “non-Muslim countries.” Zakir Naik also challenges other “Islamic scholars” who believe in such death penalty for “apostates” to extend such defiance of religious freedom not just to Muslim majority nations, but to the entire world. Zakir Naik states “If these scholars are really righteous people then they must welcome their own principle (of death for apostates) in the non-Muslim countries as well.”
Zakir Naik has also reportedly stated that women must cover themselves, and reject “revealing Western dress,” or they are “susceptible to rape.”
Zakir Naik (Photo: London Times)
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Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) promotes freedom of religion and freedom of conscience as our unqualified, universal human rights. We challenge those who deny such universal human rights, including the right to change one’s religion as defined in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
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Media Reports:
Daily Star: “Extremist Zakir Naik to start tour preaching hate”
— Daily Star: “The 44-year-old also claims Western women make themselves ‘more susceptible to rape’ because they refuse to cover up.”
Daily Mail: Allowed into UK, the preacher who backs Bin Laden
London Times: “Muslim preacher of hate is let into Britain” — Zakir Naik
— London Times: “Zakir Naik, an Indian televangelist described as a ‘hate-monger’ by moderate Muslims and one Tory MP, says western women make themselves ‘more susceptible to rape’ by wearing revealing clothing.”
— “Naik, who proselytises on Peace TV, a satellite television channel, is reported to have called for the execution of Muslims who change their faith, described Americans as ‘pigs’ and said that ‘every Muslim should be a terrorist‘”
— “In a recent lecture, he said he was ‘with’ Osama Bin Laden over the attacks on ‘terrorist America’, adding that the 9/11 hijackings were an inside job by President George W Bush.”
— quotes Zakir Naik: “Beware of Muslims saying Osama Bin Laden is right or wrong. I reject them … we don’t know. But if you ask my view, if given the truth, if he is fighting the enemies of Islam, I am for him. I don’t know what he’s doing. I’m not in touch with him. I don’t know him personally. If he is terrorising the terrorists, if he is terrorising America the terrorist … I am with him. Every Muslim should be a terrorist.”
— quotes Zakir Naik: “People who change their religion should face the death penalty”
Daily Express: “‘Terror Backer’ can enter UK… despite Tories’ ban pledge”
Background:
YouTube: Death Penalty for Apostates! (Dr. Zakir Naik) — alternative video link
YouTube: Every Muslim Should be a Terrorist – Mullah Zakir Naik
YouTube: “Spreading Hatred.. Dr Zakir Naik on loose”
