Zakir Naik's Islamic Research Foundation banned

According to reports, the foundation has been declared as an “unlawful” organisation under an anti-terror law.

The Union Home Ministry has outlawed the foundation for five years.

The Union Cabinet took the decision on putting a ban on the foundation.

The Cabinet approved a proposal to declare IRF as an ‘unlawful association’ under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act for five years, a Home Ministry official was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.

The formal notification will soon be issued on the matter, reports said.

“Law enforcement agencies will maintain strict surveillance of the activities of all establishments of the Foundation,” a senior government official was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

Mumbai-based Zakir Naik had been in news ever since Bangladesh accused him of inspiring through speeches the young men who killed 20 hostages at a Dhaka cafe this year.

Naik, a world renowned Islamic scholar and preacher, is the founder of Islamic Research Foundation and Peace TV- a channel.

Bangladesh banned IRF-owned Peace TV on July 10.

The move was made following the cafe attack on July 1.

"Bangladesh on July 10 banned IRF-owned Peace TV following reports that at least two of the five youths, who killed 22 persons, mostly foreigners, at a cafe in Dhaka's Gulshan on July 1, had been his followers on the social media," bdnews24.com reported.

In India, Arshid Qureshi, a suspected ISIS recruiter who police believe is linked to controversial preacher Zakir Naik's foundation, was been arrested in July.

According to intelligence reports, Arshid allegedly indoctrinated and motivated  youngsters in Kerala to join the ISIS.

Quoting sources, the media reports said Qureshi is believed to have been working with Zakir Naik's Islamic Research Foundation as a Public Relations Officer for the last 16 years.

According to media reports, Naik is currently outside India.

Image: Zakir Naik Facebook page