Qatar’s World Cup ‘Televangelist’ - Zakir Naik
The awarding of the 2022 FIFA World Cup to Qatar may have been rather controversial, but there can be no doubt that it presented the Gulf State with an unequalled opportunity to present a positive view of Islam to the world. So, who did they choose to head up the ambitious project of showcasing the glories of the Muslim religion on the global stage? Enter, Zakir Naik!
Admittedly, Naik is hardly a household name in the West. However, from the perspective of the Indian subcontinent the Qataris could hardly have picked a more controversial figure. Born in 1965 in Mumbai (then Bombay), Naik qualified as a medical doctor before launching a career as Muslim apologist. He can probably best be described as a Muslim ‘televangelist’. He is the founder of ‘Peace TV’ which he describes as a ‘Halal version of Netflix’. In addition to his television work he has participated in countless lectures and debates.
What is stated above might sound like a description of the activities of just another media personality (with a decided Islamic bent in this case). That is until you begin to dig into what exactly it is that Naik wants the world to know about Islam. Here are some direct quotes from the Qataris’ favourite preacher:
“Every Muslim should be a terrorist. The thing is if he is terrorising the terrorist, he is following Islam”
“If he [Osama Bin Laden] is fighting the enemies of Islam, I am for him…If he is terrorizing the terrorists, if he is terrorizing America the terrorist, the biggest terrorist, I am with him. Every Muslim should be a terrorist.”
“Wife-beating in the Muslim world is not necessarily a bad thing
“…regarding building of churches or temples is concerned, how can we allow this when their religion is wrong and when their worshipping is wrong? Therefore, we will not allow such wrong things in our Islamic country.”
”Homosexuals should be killed.”
”Girls shouldn’t be sent to schools where they lose their virginity by the time they pass out. Schools should be shut down and they should not be allowed to wear gold ornaments.”
“Muslims have the right to have sex with their female slaves.”
“Death by stoning for extra marital affairs is acceptable according to Sharia law.
Can it be any wonder that Naik is banned from several Western countries including the UK and Canada? He is, furthermore, a fugitive from justice in his native India (he currently resides in Malaysia), where he has been indicted for funding terrorism.
Yet, this is the person that the Qataris turned to when they wanted someone to proclaim Islam to a watching world. Could it be that they, along with many in the Muslim world, are convinced that his ‘brand’ of Islam is in line with the Qur’an and, therefore, the exact message that the world should hear?
For a thoroughgoing discussion of the links between Islamic teachings and violence, please see my book ‘Nothing to do with Islam? - Investigating the West’s Most Dangerous Blind Spot’
Kind regards,
Peter
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