Never mind Interpol, Mahathir says Malaysia can decide whether to extradite Islamic preacher Zakir Naik to India

The controversial televangelist, who has claimed September 11 was an ‘inside job’, fled India in 2016 amid accusations of spreading extremism

The Mahathir administration, struggling to retain its Muslim-Malay vote bank, may take another blow to its popularity if Zakir is deported

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Zakir Naik fled India three years ago amid accusations that he had aided in radicalising a group of teenagers who carried out a terror attack in Bangladesh. Photo: Alamy

Published: 10:50pm, 10 Jun 2019Updated: 10:44am, 11 Jun 2019

Malaysia has the right to decide if it will comply with any request by India to extradite controversial Islamic televangelist Zakir Naik, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said on Monday, in response to reports of an impending Interpol arrest warrant being issued for the 53-year-old.

Zakir has been living in Malaysia since 2016 after fleeing India amid accusations that he had aided in radicalising a group of teenagers who carried out a terror attack in Bangladesh.

The preacher, who founded the Islamic Research Foundation and a satellite television channel PeaceTV – both banned in India – is being sought by Indian authorities for questioning on charges of money-laundering and spreading extremism.

India’s The Hindu newspaper on Monday said authorities would soon ask the international police organisation Interpol to issue a red notice requiring members, including Malaysia, to assist in Zakir’s arrest.

Zakir in general feels that he is not going to get a fair trial [in India]

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad

Malaysia also has an extradition treaty with India, which requires it to send fugitives back unless they would be punished or prosecuted on the basis of their race, religion or political opinion.