Mumbai terror attack inspirer Naik spreading ‘hate messages’ via satellite TV in UK

LONDON - Zakir Naik, a Islamic preacher whose sermons had allegedly acted as inspiration for the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks, has reportedly been broadcasting hate messages into British homes via a satellite TV despite being banned from entering that country last year.

Naik was prevented from entering Britain by Home Secretary Theresa May after it was judged that his presence was “not conducive to the public good”.

Forty-five-year-old Naik, who claims that “every Muslim should be a terrorist”, has been spreading hate messages through satellite channel Peace TV, the Daily Star reports.

Broadcasting watchdog Ofcom had said yesterday that it had started investigating the channel after receiving a complaint from a viewer about its extremist messages.

“We are in the middle of an investigation about Peace TV. Ofcom will not tolerate extremism on British television and transgressors will be dealt with,” the paper quoted an Ofcom spokesman, as saying.

Programmes on Peace TV have reportedly praised Mujahideen fighters in Iraq, labelled Jews an “enemy of Islam” and claimed 9/11 was an “inside job”.

Meanwhile, Tory MP Patrick Mercer has said that May would “furious” to discover that Naik still holds licence to preach hatred through satellite television.

“The Home Secretary dealt with Naik extremely effectively. I think she will be furious to discover he still has a licence to spread his poison on satellite television. Ofcom should revoke it immediately,” he added.

During the British court case, Home Office officials had suggested that his sermons had inspired terrorists to carry out attacks in Mumbai in 2008.

Naik was earlier named as the chairman of the Islamic Research Foundation International, which appears to have given 1.5 million pounds to Peace TV in 2009. (ANI)