Zakir Naik: Video of my speech on Osama Bin Laden doctored

“No Muslim should terrorise human being. I was misquoted earlier. I only said Muslim should be terrorists to anti-social elements. Video of my speech on Osama is doctored,” said Naik in an exclusive interview to News18.

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Speaking to The Indian Express on July 5, Naik had said, “I have said that the Quran explicitly says in Chapter 5 that when a person kills another human being, of any religion, it is as though he has killed the whole of humanity. And when a man protects another from being killed, it is as though he has saved all of humanity… Why does the media give only half of my quote? I have said that for a thief, a policeman is a terrorist. And people should be terrorists against anti-social elements. The media misrepresents what I said, so i stopped saying this at my lectures.”

On being asked about defending Osama, Naik said, “I don’t know him. How can they say I am supporting him when I simply say I cannot comment on him because I don’t know him and I have not done any research on him. The Quran does not allow me to speak about a third person regarding whom I have done no research or study.”

Regarding calls in various countries to ban him, Naik said some Hindu “fanatics” are behind such calls. He said that a quarter of his followers on Facebook as well as attendees at his lectures comprise non-Muslims. At lectures, he said, non-Muslims are encouraged to be the first to ask questions. “When I have clarified their doubts, these non-Muslims have a positive view of Islam, and this threatens the fanatics,” he said.