The Toronto Star reports:
A Muslim televangelist banned from Britain this week for speeches amounting to “unacceptable behaviour” is to headline an imminent Toronto conference.
Zakir Naik, founder of online Peace TV in Mumbai, India, tops the bill at the Journey of Faith Conference, July 2-4, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. It is being described as the largest Islamic conference ever in North America.
In videos on YouTube, Naik advocates death to homosexuals and to Muslims who leave the faith. On Osama bin Laden, he has said: “If he is terrorizing the terrorists, if he is terrorizing America the terrorist, the biggest terrorist, every Muslim should be a terrorist.”
The new British Home Secretary Theresa May said Thursday she has refused entry to Naik, who was scheduled to give a series of lectures.
“Numerous comments made by Dr. Naik are evidence to me of his unacceptable behaviour,” May told the Daily Telegraph. “Exclusion powers are very serious and no decision is taken lightly or as a method of stopping open debate on issues.”
“This guy has absolute hatred for the West,” Tarek Fatah of the Muslim Canadian Congress said Friday.
Those who complain about the lack of Muslims willing to confront extremists should make note of the last quote.
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habibi adds: You can read Mr Naik’s attempt to defend his record here. What does he make of Osama bin Laden? He’s just not sure:
Many journalists ask Dr Zakir Naik regarding his views about Osama Bin Laden. Due to the fact that he [Osama Bin Laden] has not been convicted in respect of 9/11 and as Dr Zakir Naik cannot verify the claims against him, he neither considers him a saint nor a terrorist.
He does condemn the September 11 atrocities. That’s an easy one – Bush did it, don’t you know:
Update: Naik has now been banned from entering Canada.
