Al-arab In UK | UK trend: Zakir Naik in the Qatar World Cup 2022!

UK trend: Zakir Naik in the Qatar World Cup 2022!

UK trend
AUK Editorial 22 November 2022
Share

The hashtag #Zakir Naik has been trending on Twitter as the public has been split between those who favour Dr. Naik and those who think that Qatar invited him and oppose the presence of “such a figure” in the Qatar World Cup 2022!

Zakir Naik’s presence in World Cup sparked controversy on social media 

 

 

Many social media activists, especially those from India, like Anshul Saxena, used Twitter to voice their opposition to Naik’s attendance to the FIFA World Cup. The 57-year-old Islamic speaker was banned from India in 2016 and is accused of promoting hate speech and encouraging terrorism. He is also charged with money laundering for allegedly obtaining $28 million (£21 million) in illicit assets to pay for houses in India and fund events. Additionally, it is claimed that he inspired the 2016 Dhaka attack in Bangladesh through his speech.

Not only social media activists were outraged by Mr. Naik’s attendance at the “controversial” World Cup; many others also criticized Qatar for being “hypocritical” for allowing someone to speak about religion whilst he has shown “disrespect for other religions.”

However, Mr. Zakir Naik has a large number of followers who expressed their happiness at his arrival in Qatar because of the positive effects of his da’wa-related “religious lectures” that he has already begun giving, which led to a number of people accepting Islam.

Many people, nevertheless, were confused by the arrival of Dr. Zakir Naik to Qatar to speak at FIFA World Cup activities because he has openly said that “football is forbidden in Islam.”

 

Zakir Naik prohibited in the UK and many countries 

 

World Cup 2022 in Qatar
Zakir Naik in World Cup 2022 in Qatar (Flickr)

According to a broadcaster at the Qatari state-owned sports channel Alkass, Faisal Alhajri, the Indian Muslim preacher travelled to Qatar to deliver numerous religious lectures.

On Saturday, Mr. Alhajri stated that “preacher Sheikh Zakir Naik is in Qatar for the World Cup and would offer numerous religious lectures throughout the tournament.”

Videos posted on social media showed Mr. Naik entering the location while being escorted by volunteers. An estimated 200 million people watch Mr. Naik worldwide.

He has been residing in Malaysia, where the government of the country’s former leader Mahathir Mohamad rejected India’s request for extradition, stating that he would not be sent back “as long as he is not causing any issue.”

He was prohibited in the UK by Theresa May due to allegations that he had praised Osama bin Laden. Additionally, he cannot enter Canada.


Read more:

 

 

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Opens with a Recitation of Quran

UK Trend: Controversy following Qatar’s ban on the sale of alcoholic beverages in World Cup stadiums

Symbols of the Qatar World Cup adorned by Arab culture

Latest Tweets @alarabinuk

𝕏 @alarabinuk · 17 Jul 2026
في مشهد حظي بتفاعل واسع، رفعت المغنية والشاعرة الأمريكية باتي سميث علم فلسطين خلال حفلها في مدينة ليمريك الأيرلندية، بعدما تسلمته من أحد الحضور لتلتفّ به على المسرح. وأشادت سميث بتضامن الشعب الأيرلندي مع الفلسطينيين، فيما ردد الجمهور هتافات "حرية…
𝕏 @alarabinuk · 17 Jul 2026
📌 تكريم استثنائي لصادق خان.. هل ينضم للحكومة الجديدة؟ منح رئيس الوزراء البريطاني السابق السير كير ستارمر عمدة لندن صادق خان عضوية مجلس اللوردات، تقديرًا لجهوده خلال فترة توليه منصب عمدة العاصمة. وسينضم السير صادق خان، المنتمي إلى حزب العمال،…
𝕏 @alarabinuk · 17 Jul 2026
R to @AlARABINUK: تمرد علني وأزمة كروية .. إليكم جولة شاملة في أبرز عناوين الصحف البريطانية اليوم: https://alarabinuk.com/?p=236343
𝕏 @alarabinuk · 17 Jul 2026
"كأس العالم ليس لنا، لكن جزر فوكلاند لنا" 📰 بين كواليس تمرد حزب العمال وأزمة دبلوماسية مشتعلة مع الأرجنتين بسبب جزر فوكلاند...الصحف البريطانية تشتعل. #العرب_في_بريطانيا #AUK
See more on X →