UK bans entry of Mumbai preacher Naik

A day after the UK banned Mumbai-based Islamic tele-evangelist Dr Zakir Naik from entering its territories,the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF),which Naik heads,said Britain had “bowed to sectarian… pressure groups”.

British media reports said Naik had justified terror in his speeches. Reuters quoted UK Home Secretary Theresa May as saying she had barred Naik “for inflammatory remarks he is known to have made in the past”.

“… I am not willing to allow those who might not be conducive to the public good to enter… (Naik’s) numerous comments… are evidence of his unacceptable behaviour,” May was quoted as saying.

Naik was scheduled to speak in the UK later this month. The IRF said his lectures had been “taken out of context”,and urged the Indian government to take up the issue with Britain. “Dr Naik is an opponent of terrorism,” IRF said.