The NGO of Islamic preacher Zakir Naik is banned from receiving foreign funds as the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued a gazette notification.

Earlier, the MHA had placed the NGO the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) under the prior permission category through an executive order and issued a notification also, which cannot be challenged under the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act (FCRA) 2010.

The notification said, "Whereas, IRF, registered as Trust with Charity Commission, Mumbai, vide its Registration number - B1409/Mumbai, is also a registered organisation u/s 11 (1) of FCRA, holding registration number - 083780696R."

"Whereas, IRF was authorized to accept foreign contributions for undertaking educational and social programmes in India, which are not detrimental to the national interest", and "whereas, on the basis of records available and reports received from agencies, central government is satisfied that IRF has violated certain provisions of FCRA 2010.”

“ Now, therefore, central government, in exercise of powers conferred u/s 11 (3) (I) of said act, hereby directs that IRF shall hereinafter obtain prior permission of central government before accepting any foreign contribution, until further orders," it added.

Also Read: Zakir Naik's 'aide' arrested for recruiting youths for IS!

Nandini