Qatar denies inviting Islamic preacher Zakir Naik for World Cup inaugural ceremony

Amid calls for boycott of the FIFA World Cup 2022 by cadres of the Bharatiya Janata Party over reports of Qatar inviting fugitive Islamist preacher Zakir Naik to the opening ceremony, the Gulf nation has denied extending any official invitation.

The Qatari government has called the reports ‘deliberate disinformation circulated by 'third countries to spoil India-Qatar bilateral relations' in its official statement.

However, they added that Zakir Naik could be on a personal visit to Qatar.

Earlier, India had warned Qatar that Indian Vice- President Jagdeep Dhankar would not attend the FIFA World Cup opening ceremony if Naik has been invited for the same.

Vice President Dhankar attended the inaugural celebrations and also met Indian expatriates working there.

Naik is wanted in India since 2016 for alleged money laundering and inciting extremism through hate speeches. He is banned in both Canada and the UK.