New Delhi, November 13 (TNA) The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has reimposed a five-year ban on the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), continuing to designate it as an unlawful association under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA). The previous ban was due to expire on November 14, 2026.
The Ministry issued a notification in the Official Gazette on Friday, extending the ban for another five years under Sections 3(1) and 3(3) of the UAPA. The IRF, founded by controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, was first declared an unlawful association in 2016 and again in 2021.
Grounds for Extension
The Home Ministry said the IRF and its founder-president, Zakir Abdul Karim Naik, have continued to encourage and aid followers in promoting enmity, hatred and ill-will between different religious communities. The ministry cited concerns over national security and communal harmony.
The government also alleged that the organisation could reorganise activists, spread anti-national sentiment and support militancy.
History of the Ban
The IRF was first banned in 2016, and the ban was renewed in 2021. Both decisions were later upheld by the UAPA Tribunal. The latest extension ensures that the organisation remains designated as an unlawful association for another five years, continuing the legal restrictions imposed under the UAPA.
Zakir Naik’s Status
Zakir Naik, the founder of the IRF, remains outside India and is wanted by Indian authorities in connection with alleged terror-related activities. The extension of the ban is part of the government’s continued crackdown on the organisation.
The Ministry’s notification does not announce any new criminal case against Naik or the IRF, but reinforces the existing legal framework under which the organisation is designated as unlawful.