<p>In an exclusive interview with WION's Executive Editor Palki Sharma, former Prime Minister of Malaysia Mahathir Mohamad said that Zakir Naik who has been charged in India with money laundering and inciting terrorism&nbsp;won't be extradited since he felt the fundamentalist Islamic preacher "will not be safe from the Indian public."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-making-claims-in-south-china-sea-but-we-cannot-go-to-war-says-mahathir-mohamad-to-wion-318909"><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong>China making claims in South China Sea but we cannot go to war, says Mahathir Mohamad to WION</a></p>

<p>"The situation in India with regard to the Muslim-Hindu relationship is not so good. There have been cases of people being lynched. So, he is, I think not very welcome in India," the former Malaysian prime minister told WION.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Will Malaysia extradite Zakir Naik if Mahathir Mohamad returns to power?<br />
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Listen in to what former Malaysian prime minister <a href="https://twitter.com/chedetofficial?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@chedetofficial</a> told <a href="https://twitter.com/palkisu?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@palkisu</a> in an exclusive interview<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MahathirMohamadOnWION?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MahathirMohamadOnWION</a> <a href="https://t.co/jirK1L0aXl">pic.twitter.com/jirK1L0aXl</a></p>
— WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/1291747173093257223?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 7, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>"We thought that for the time being he can stay here but we would like to send him to some other country where he would be safe," Mahathir Mohamad said, adding,"unfortunately, not many countries are willing to accept him."</p>

<p>India's Enforcement Directorate(ED) had filed a case against Naik accusing him of promoting religious hatred and unlawful activity. Naik had fled to Malaysia in 2017.</p>

<p>When reminded that the Indian government had asked for Naik's extradition, Mahathir Mohamad made a sweeping remark, asserting, "The government is one thing, the people have got different ideas. Sometimes the people act rather roughly on Muslims in India."</p>

<p>In fact, Mahathir Mohamad asserted that he would send Naik&nbsp;anywhere but India although conceding that "not many countries are willing to accept him."</p>

<p>Zakir Naik was banned from entering the UK in 2010 for "unacceptable behaviour" and for making inflammatory speeches.</p>

<p>In 2016, during the Dhaka cafe attack, Bangladesh media had reported that one of the terrorists was inspired by Zakir Naik's speeches as the Bangladeshi government moved to ban his Peace TV network.</p>


In an exclusive interview with WION's Executive Editor Palki Sharma, former Prime Minister of Malaysia Mahathir Mohamad said that Zakir Naik who has been charged in India with money laundering and inciting terrorism won't be extradited since he felt the fundamentalist Islamic preacher "will not be safe from the Indian public.

In an exclusive interview with WION's Executive Editor Palki Sharma, former Prime Minister of Malaysia Mahathir Mohamad said that Zakir Naik who has been charged in India with money laundering and inciting terrorism won't be extradited since he felt the fundamentalist Islamic preacher "will not be safe from the Indian public." Also Read: China making claims in South China Sea but we cannot go to war, says Mahathir Mohamad to WION "The situation in India with regard to the Muslim-Hindu relationship is not so good. There have been cases of people being lynched. So, he is, I think not very welcome in India," the former Malaysian prime minister told WION. Will Malaysia extradite Zakir Naik if Mahathir Mohamad returns to power? Listen in to what former Malaysian prime minister @chedetofficial told @palkisu in an exclusive interview#MahathirMohamadOnWION pic.twitter.com/jirK1L0aXl — WION (@WIONews) August 7, 2020 × "We thought that for the time being he can stay here but we would like to send him to some other country where he would be safe," Mahathir Mohamad said, adding,"unfortunately, not many countries are willing to accept him." India's Enforcement Directorate(ED) had filed a case against Naik accusing him of promoting religious hatred and unlawful activity. Naik had fled to Malaysia in 2017. When reminded that the Indian government had asked for Naik's extradition, Mahathir Mohamad made a sweeping remark, asserting, "The government is one thing, the people have got different ideas. Sometimes the people act rather roughly on Muslims in India." In fact, Mahathir Mohamad asserted that he would send Naik anywhere but India although conceding that "not many countries are willing to accept him." Zakir Naik was banned from entering the UK in 2010 for "unacceptable behaviour" and for making inflammatory speeches. In 2016, during the Dhaka cafe attack, Bangladesh media had reported that one of the terrorists was inspired by Zakir Naik's speeches as the Bangladeshi government moved to ban his Peace TV network.

Would like to send Zakir Naik to some country where he will be safe, says Mahathir Mohamad to WION

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad spoke to Executive Editor Palki Sharma as part of WION's Global Leadership Series. In an exclusive interview, the former Malaysian prime minister spoke on a variety of things including Zakir Naik, China's role in Asia, Pakistan and PM Imran Khan and his relations with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

China making claims in South China Sea but we cannot go to war, says Mahathir Mohamad to WION

At 95, Mahathir Mohamad was expelled from his own party. He is still eyeing a comeback. The Former PM of Malaysia gave an exclusive interview to WION's Palki Sharma. It airs on Friday at 8 PM IST. Ahead of the broadcast, here is a report about one of the world's most controversial leaders.

Gravitas: Exclusive: Mahathir Mohamad on WION | Friday at 8 pm IST