India extends ban on Zakir Naik’s IRF for 5 more years

The Centre has extended the ban on  Zakir Naik-linked the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) for another five years. The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued a gazette notification in this regard. IRF was first declared an unlawful association under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 by the India Government in November 2016. The ban was subsequently extended in November 2021. The Home Ministry said that IRF has been indulging in activities which are prejudicial to the security of the country and have the potential of disturbing peace and communal harmony and disrupting the secular fabric of the country. It also cited speeches and statements made by the Foundation’s founder and President, Dr Zakir Naik, saying that they promoted enmity and hatred among different religious communities and inspiring youths of a particular religion in India and abroad to commit terrorist acts.
The notification further stated that the government considers it necessary to curb the organization’s activities to prevent the spread of anti-national sentiments.The notification said that if the unlawful activities are not curbed or controlled immediately, IRF will take the opportunity to continue its subversive activities and re-organise its activists who are still absconding.
Naik fled India in 2016, shortly after terrorists responsible for an attack at a cafe in Dhaka, Bangladesh, claimed to be inspired by him. Following this, the Indian government banned Naik and his organisation, the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), for five years in November 2016. The government renewed the ban in 2021. Friday’s order comes a day before it was to end.
Naik is currently residing in Malaysia, where he was granted permanent residency under the administration of former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad. India has repeatedly requested Naik’s extradition to face charges of money laundering and incitement to extremism. He met Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad in October 2024 and made a second visit to the country in February 2025.