Zakir Naik’s heated exchange with girl on Islam and paedophilia, video is viral

A video of fugitive Islamic televangelist Zakir Naik recently surfaced on social media and shows him berating a girl who questioned the prevalence of societal ills, such as paedophilia, in Islamic societies.

The heated exchange occurred during a public gathering in Pakistan’s Karachi. The girl, who identifies herself as a Pashtun, begins by asking Naik, “Why are there so many evils like paedophilia, adultery, and drug addiction where I live, despite the people being strictly religious? Why do the ulemas (Muslim scholars) not call them out?”

She also raises concerns about the restricted freedoms of women.

Naik first gives a flippant response to her query, joking that men should take a cue from women and not step out of the house without cause.

When the girl tries to explain her point of view and claims that paedophilia is becoming normalised in her region, the hate preacher interrupts and repeatedly asks her to be quiet so he can answer her question.

He then says, “There is a contradiction in what you’re saying. There is no mention of paedophilia in the Quran or any Islamic scripture.”

Naik, known for his rigid defence of Islamic teachings, accuses the girl of defaming Islam. “A Muslim can never commit sexual abuse against children. You should think 10 times before levelling accusations against another,” he says.

When the girl tries to defend her question, he snaps, “You are wrong,” and demands that she apologise for her remarks.

The preacher’s behaviour drew widespread criticism on social media, with many accusing him of gaslighting the girl and being dismissive of the serious concerns she raised.

Naik, a Mumbai-born Islamic preacher, was labelled a fugitive by India and faces multiple charges of terror funding, money laundering and hate speech.

The government banned his organisation, the Islamic Research Foundation, and revoked his passport. Naik has been residing in Malaysia since 2017, where he continues to deliver lectures and sermons.

Critics argue that Naik’s teachings often misinterpret Islamic texts and promote a narrow and intolerant interpretation of Islam. They contend that his speeches have contributed to the radicalisation of young Muslims.