Members of Shia Muslim community in Lucknow protesting against Zakir Naik. ANI photo Members of Shia Muslim community in Lucknow protesting against Zakir Naik. ANI photo

Amidst the controversy regarding televengalist and Islamic preacher Zakir Naik’s role in inspiring and motivating the Dhaka bakery attackers, the Shia Muslim community of Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh has come out and protested against him.

The community members on Saturday came out and raised slogans against Naik and others. The members carried banners which had pictures of Islamic State founder Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and Jammat-ud-Dawah chief Hafiz Saeed along with that of Zakir Naik. “Protest march against terrorism,” read the banner.

Naik’s name popped up after it was discovered that two of the Dhaka attackers were his fans and used to follow him on social media. In past, others involved in terrorist activities like reently busted Hyderabad ISIS module’s chief have found to be followers of Naik.

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The Shiv Sena in Maharashtra called for a complete ban on Naik and his channel Peace TV. Home Minister Rajnath Singh also said that it was a matter of serious concern and a probe into funding of Zakir’s NGO has also been ordered.

Meanwhile, separatist leaders in Kashmir came out in support of Naik and claimed that it was an attack on the Muslims. Naik himself denied that his sermons had anything to do with terror activities in Bangladesh. He released a video of himself from Mecca in Saudi Arabia claiming that 90 per cent of people in Bangladesh knew him and 50 per cent are his fans. “Just because the Dhaka attackers followed me on Facebook does not mean i can be held responsible for their act,” he said.

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