The government is planning to ban Salafist preacher Zakir Naik's NGO Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), as it has been favored as an "unlawful association" under the Unlawful Association (Prevention) Act (UAPA) by the legal opinion to the Home Ministry.

According to the UAPA, an 'unlawful' association is different from a 'terrorist' organization.  The law, while defining an "unlawful association", covers any organization "which has for its object any activity that is punishable under Section 153A or 153B of IPC".

Any organization declared as 'unlawful' will be banned from recruiting members and face closure of all its offices and interests across the country.

The home ministry was also examining possible FCRA violations by IRF and IRF Educational Trust, both registered as "educational" NGOs under FCRA. However, once IRF is declared 'unlawful', it will face a ban on not only receiving foreign funding but also domestic funding.

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

Nandini