MHA declares Zakir Naik’s Islamic Research Foundation unlawful for another five years

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Islamic preacher Zakir Naik. File | Photo Credit: Deepak Salvi

The Ministry of Home Affairs on Friday (November 13, 2026) declared Zakir Naik’s Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) an unlawful association under UAPA for another five years.

This is the third time that the ban against IRF has been extended. The outfit was first banned in 2016.

Further, the Central Government said it believes that if the unlawful activities of the IRF were not curbed and controlled immediately, the organisation would “take the opportunity to continue its subversive activities and re-organise its activists who are still absconding; disrupt the secular fabric of the country by polluting the minds of the people by creating communal disharmony; propagate anti-national sentiments; escalate secessionism by supporting militancy and undertake activities which are prejudicial to the sovereignty, integrity and security of the country,” according to a government notification.

The notification further said, “In exercise of the powers by Sub-sections (1) and (3) of Section 3 of the UAPA, 1967 (37 of 1967), the Central Government hereby declares the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) as an unlawful association and directs that this notification shall, subject to any order that may be made under Section 4 of the said Act, have effect for a period of five years from the date of its publication in the official Gazette.”

Naik, who is currently abroad, is being probed by the National Investigation Agency for alleged terror activities.

Naik was born in Mumbai, but he fled India in the wake of the July 1, 2016, bombing at a cafe in Dhaka, Bangladesh. He is accused of spreading hatred among different communities through his Peace TV and social media networks, where he has over 20 million followers. 

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