Naik banned from entering UK

What do Dr Zakir Naik, Russian Pavel Skachevsky, far-right US talk show host Michael Savage, former Kahane Chai leader Mike Guzovsky and Kansas Baptist pastor Fred Phelps have in common? They are all on the list of 230 people who have been banned from entering the UK.
Dr. Zakir Naik of Mumbai has been banned under an order from British home secretary, Theresa May, who said that visiting the UK was “a privilege, not a right”. The home secretary can stop people from entering the UK if she believes there is a threat to national security, public order or the safety of citizens.
One main reason why Dr. Naik has been banned is the disparaging remarks that often makes about other religions. One of his remarks that have already created furore in India is as follows: “But if you ask my view, if this is the truth, if he (Osama bin Laden) is fighting the enemies of Islam, I am for him…. If he is terrorising the terrorists, if he is terrorising America the terrorist, the biggest terrorist, I am with him ...”
Another most problematic of Naik's statements are the ones that appear to condone violence: "If a Muslim becomes a non-Muslim and propagates his/her new religion then, it is as good as treason. There is a 'death penalty' in Islam for such a person." Naik's supporters have cited his freedom of speech as a reason for overturning this exclusion order, but would he take a similar stance if a famous ex-Muslim chose to convene a speaking tour in Pakistan, for example? Further, Najibullah Zazi, who was arrested in September 2009 for planning suicide attacks on the New York subway, is said to have become "enchanted" with Zakir Naik before planning his attack.
British Muslims for Secular Democracy have come out in support of the ban saying they support “rigorous application of the exclusion policy to any international speaker who incites hatred or violence.” Several other Muslim organizations, however, call this ban unrealistic and want the UK Government to review their decision.
Back home in India, mixed reactions are forthcoming from within the Muslim community. A prominent religious scholar based in Delhi, Prof. Akhtarul Wasey says that physical ban on entry to a country cannot be a solution in this internet age when views fly faster than sound.
A prominent religious activist Shaukat Bharati welcomes the ban saying that even the Peace Channel should be banned by the Government. Dr. Naik not only makes disparaging remarks against other religions but also against the generally prevailing views of the Muslims. People adhering to his views are miniscule even though he openly criticizes all the other sects of Islam. Such criticism itself is unislamic but he doesn’t seem to realize this.
Shaukat Bharati says that Dr. Naik has been banned from entering the State of Uttar Pradesh as well some time back. This was because of his remarks supporting the terrorists like Bin Laden, his view that all the prophets including our last Prophet are dead and hence prayers cannot be addressed to them and his praise of Yazid, the tyrant ruler of Damascus who killed Prophet’s grandson, Imam Husain. Shaukat Bharati says further: “It is no big deal if he supports Bin Laden. Somebody who couldn’t see the tyranny of Yazid won’t be able to see the terrorism of Bin Laden. Such people see the world with one eye and interpret the religion their own way. After all, the Talibani Muslims who were killing others were justifying that through their understanding of Islam.” Shaukat cites the program on NDTV, where he failed to criticize the acts of Bin Laden, even when Barkha Dutt, the anchor, in presence of Shahrukh Khan, asked his view several times over. “Such people should be banned from speaking publicly even within India,” says Bharati.
Qazi of Allahabad Qari Maqbool too has given a fatwa condemning Dr. Zaik in October 2008, which became the basis of the ban being imposed by the UP Government.
Shaukat Bharati brought the campaign against Dr. Naik to Lucknow where a huge congregation of Islamic clerics was called by him. He was supported by Intezar Abdi ‘Bobby’. This included religious heads like Maulana Yahya Bukhari, Maulana Abul Irfan Firangimahli, Maulana Kalbe Jawwad, Qazis of Saharanpur, Kanpur, besides others. All were unanimous in declaring Dr. Naik as an unwanted element in UP, for his remarks against the sentiments of Muslims in general and for his stand on terrorism. Maulana Abul Irfan Firangimahli even gave a fatwa of ‘kufr’ against Dr. Naik, which was endorsed by all the others present.
Says Bharati: “The world knows that Osama is a terrorist but he endorses the action of Osama. He condemns the religion and views of others. Tahirul Qadiri has recently given a fatwa, citing names of all terrorist organizations, that they are dogs of hell. Yet he is propagating Talibani Islam through Peace channel.” Shaukat Bharati challenges Dr. Naik by saying: “He shows that he is knowledgeable in front of laymen. If he is really a scholar of Islam, I challenge him to a debate on Islam with Ulemas and he will be exposed. Even I challenge him to come for an uncensored live debate on TV.”