Zakir Naik accuses Arnab of tarnishing image; files Rs 500 crore defamation suit
Mumbai, July 29: Islamic preacher and televangelist Zakir Naik has filed a Rs 500 crore defamation suit against Arnab Goswami, editor –in-chief for Times Now, for allegedly running a ‘hate campaign’ and ‘media trial’ against him. Zakir Naik has accused the channel of creating enmity and hatred between religious communities and as well as hurting the religious sentiments of Naik and the Muslim community.
Zakir Naik, a controversial preacher is the founder of the Mumbai based Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) which is in the centre of the media spotlight in connection with the missing youths from Kerala who are believed to have joined the ISIS. Naik himself has been under the scanner by investigation agencies after his speeches were found to have inspired the two youths responsible for the Dhaka bakery attack.
The preacher who currently resides abroad and has addressed the media only through video appearances has accused the channel of conducting a media trial against him.
In the legal notice filed by his lawyer on behalf of Zakir Naik, he accuses Arnab Goswami of making false and defamatory statements in his “The Newshour Debate” which was telecast on the channel on 6th July, 2016.
The notice says Arnab made statements such as;
- “….He is not a scholar, he is a supporter ofOsama Bin Laden, he used the medium of television to build the case for Osama Bin Laden…”
- “…..Zakir Naik is so dangerous, he is so dangerous, because he uses the television media. ..”
- “… He is using the garb of Quran to defend violence, the ISIS has carried out the attack in Dhaka and this man is defending Osama Bin Laden and building a case for them…”
- “….He is an agent of terror”…
- “…This debate is for protecting India from venomous people like Zakir Naik”…
- “… I cannot tolerate people who carry an Indian passport and have no loyalty to this country, to this country’s belief, to this country’s sovereignty and to this country’s secularism…”
- “…Kafeel Ahmad responsible for the 2007 Glasgow Airport attack, the man who plotted the 2007 London bombings is inspired by Zakir Naik, Iqbal Bhatkal, Raahil Bhatkal of the Indian Mujahidden are inspired by Zakir Naik…”
The notice accuses Arnab of creating a media trial against him when he is yet to receive any notice by the Indian government with regard to the probe mentioned in the channel. The notice also accuses him of having tarnished Zakir Naik’s ‘impeccable’ reputation and that the damage to his reputation caused solely on account of his irresponsible statements has caused grave and irreparable damage to his client‘s image in the world “which cannot be measured in terms of money.”
The notice also states that though Zakir Naik is not in a position to acertain “the actual amount of the damages suffered, the present estimates of damage suffered by him would amount to no less than Rs.500 crores.
