In a major embarrassment for the government, Interpol has rejected India’s request for a Red Notice to provisionally arrest controversial television evangelist Zakir Naik, the Hindustan Times reported. Inerpol also questioned the very basis of invoking money laundering and hate speech charges against Naik in the country.
Dismissing NIA’s evidence furnished for the provisional arrest of Naik for extradition to India, the Interpol noted that asking for donations during speeches was not in itself a criminal act and cannot constitute the component of criminal offence for money laundering.
The Interpol panel highlighted that promoting religion and religious views also could not be considered as committing a criminal act.