Malaysia Won't Extradite Dr. Zakir Naik to India Amidst Domestic Politics and Religious Sentiments

Despite facing multiple criminal charges in India, Malaysian authorities remain hesitant to extradite Islamic preacher Dr. Zakir Naik. Since his arrival in Malaysia in 2016, Dr. Naik has garnered immense popularity among the country's Muslim population. India formally requested Dr. Naik's extradition in January 2018 and also sought an Interpol Red Notice for his arrest. However, Interpol declined the request citing procedural grounds. While Malaysia and India have an extradition treaty signed in 2010, Dr. Naik's case presents a highly sensitive domestic political issue. Offending the sentiments of Malay Muslims, who constitute over 70 percent of Malaysia's population, is something no political party wishes to risk. Dr. Naik also enjoys support from Islamist parties, making his deportation politically precarious. Dr. Naik himself claims he is persecuted in India due to his faith and would not receive a fair trial. "No Malaysian government will extradite him as he has a large following among the Malay Muslims and secondly, it will be seen as anti-Islam and that Malaysia, being a Muslim nation, failed to protect a fellow Muslim," stated Arfa'eza Abdul Aziz, a Kuala Lumpur-based communications consultant. Previous administrations have held similar positions, and the current Anwar government, with its coalition partner the Democratic Action Party (DAP), is vulnerable to accusations of being anti-Malay or anti-Islam. Former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad had previously stated that Malaysia would not deport Dr. Naik if he did not violate Malaysian law. The political climate within India, particularly its perceived hardline stance towards Muslims, may also be influencing Malaysia's decision. Under these circumstances, the issue of Dr. Naik's extradition appears to be effectively shelved. Source: The Diplomat Indonesia