Indian-based Islamic scholar Dr Zakir Naik on Friday condemned the terror attack in Nice, France which killed 84 people and termed suicide bombings as ‘haraam’ in Islam.
Addressing the media in Mumbai via Skype, Naik said, “I condemn all terror attacks anywhere in the world. I will speak for hours [against terrorism] if needed.”
Asked to comment on one of his previous speeches on suicide bombings, the 50-year-old preacher said such attacks are considered ‘haraam’ in Islam, however, many scholars permit it as a war tactic, ANI reported.
Earlier, Naik clarified, “I do not support terrorism or violence in any form whatsoever. I have never supported any terrorist organisations and have mentioned this over and over again in thousands of my public talks worldwide.”
Referring to the fatwas against him, Naik claimed that he is a messenger of peace and does not criticise any sect of Islam.
Last week, the Bangladesh government banned the broadcasting of Naik’s channel Peace TV, following reports his speeches inspired some of the terrorists who carried out the vicious attack at a café in Dhaka recently.
READ MORE: Bangladesh bans Zakir Naik’s Peace TV, tracks students after attacks
Naik, in his lecture aired on Peace TV, an international Islamic channel, had reportedly “urged all Muslims to be terrorists”.
He further accused the media for spreading ‘baseless rumours’ about him, stating that media outlets had ‘altered’ his responses and ‘misguided people’.
“Media is the most important weapon in the world. It can convert a hero into villain or even a villain into a hero,” Naik said on Monday.
“Those who do that should be held responsible,” he added. He also challenged news channel TimesNow’s Chief Editor Arnab Goswami to an open debate, where both take turns to speak for an hour uninterrupted on “who is more beneficial for the society – Arnab Goswami or Zakir Naik”.