Despite ban, Zakir Naik’s popularity remains high

More than two thousand people throng the iconic Chinese mosque to pray alongside Dr. Zakir Naik in Melaka, where has been banned from holding religious talks.

Dressed in a simple blue shirt, black pants and a kupiah, the Mumbai-born televangelist, as per MalayMail reports, attend the three-hour incident-free event “Malam Islam Bersatu”, organized by the mosque’s committee.

Compared to the massive crowd that the evangelist typically attracts, the event saw the supporters in moderate numbers proving that his popularity remains high despite a national ban on giving public talks.

It was Dr. Naik’s first public appearance after he was officially barred from making public speeches in every state in Malaysia after he stirred up a controversy with his racial remarks in the multi-ethnic nation.

Dr. Naik, who was granted permanent residency in Malaysia by the previous government, has been living in the country for the last three years.

Dr. Naik is facing charges of inciting communal disharmony and committing unlawful activities in India. He is also facing probe both in India and Bangladesh in connection with the terror attack at the Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka on July 2016.