Fact Check: Malaysian authorities did not hand over Islamic scholar Dr. Zakir Naik to Indian government
A post claiming that Islamic scholar Dr. Zakir Naik has been handed over to India by the Malaysian government and is likely to be dragged to Mumbai is going viral on social media.
By Newsmeter Network
Hyderabad: A post claiming that Islamic scholar Dr. Zakir Naik has been handed over to India by the Malaysian government and is likely to be dragged to Mumbai is going viral on social media.
Archive Link: https://archive.is/4EVOs
Click here to view a post similar claim.
The original claim by a Twitter user read, "It is reported that Islamic scholar Dr. Zakir Naik has been handed over to India by the Malaysian government and is likely to be dragged to Mumbai by late night. Be victorious." (translated)
Fact Check:
The claim is false.
NewsMeter searched Google for news reports and found a Hindu article dated 6 July 2018. It states that Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has refused to extradite Zakir Naik to India.
Another report by India Today from 14 August 2019 said the Malaysian PM has refused to extradite the Islamic preacher to India on the grounds that Zakir Naik might not receive a fair trial.
We found several other similar reports.
The Indian government is trying to bring Dr. Zakir Naik to India. It has continuously been requesting the Malaysian government to deport him to India. A tweet by ANI from 14 May 2020 said the Indian government had sent a formal request to Malaysia for the extradition of Zakir Naik.
Therefore, it is clear that the claim that Dr. Zakir Naik was handed over to India by the Malaysian authorities is false.
