Zakir Naik faces backlash after a viral debate with Pakistani girl on ‘Pedophilia in Islam’
The girl, identifying as a Pashtun, asked Naik, "Why are there so many problems like pedophilia, adultery, and drug addiction in my community, even though people are very religious? Why don’t the ulemas (Muslim scholars) speak out against these issues?"
A video of fugitive Islamic preacher Zakir Naik is surfacing on social media, where he criticized a girl for asking about issues like pedophilia in Islamic societies.
The fierce debate took place at a public gathering in Karachi, Pakistan. The girl, identifying as a Pashtun, asked Zakir Naik , “Why are there so many problems like pedophilia, adultery, and drug addiction in my community, even though people are very religious? Why don’t the ulemas (Muslim scholars) speak out against these issues?”
Naik initially responds to her question with a casual remark, joking that men should learn from women and stay home unless necessary. When the girl attempts to share her perspective, saying that pedophilia is becoming normalized in her area, he interrupts her, repeatedly telling her to be quiet so he can answer.
He then replied, “What you’re saying is contradictory. The Quran and other Islamic scriptures do not mention pedophilia.”
Known for his strong defense of Islamic teachings, Zakir Naik accuses the girl of defaming Islam, asserting, “A Muslim can never commit sexual abuse against children. You should think carefully before making such accusations against others.”
When the girl attempts to defend her question, he interrupts her, saying, “You are wrong,” and insists that she should apologise for her remarks.
The preacher’s behaviour faced widespread backlash on social media, with many accusing him of gaslighting the girl and dismissing her serious concerns.
Naik, an Islamic preacher originally from Mumbai, is considered a fugitive by India and faces multiple charges, including terror funding, money laundering, and hate speech. The Indian government prohibited his organization, the Islamic Research Foundation, and canceled his passport. Since 2017, Zakir Naik has been living in Malaysia, where he continues to give lectures and sermons.
Critics claim that Naik’s teachings often misinterpret Islamic texts and promote a narrow, intolerant view of Islam, arguing that his speeches have contributed to the radicalization of young Muslims.
He earlier also faced backlash for his controversial behaviour during a visit to an orphanage in Pakistan. He boycotted a group of orphan girls when the host referred to them as his daughters. A video of him becoming restless when the girls arrived on stage went viral, prompting criticism from the Pakistani public for his “misogynistic behaviour.”
Naik claimed that these girls were “na-mahram” to him, meaning he believed he should not interact with them. In Islam, “na-mahram” refers to an unmarried woman who is not closely related by blood. Zakir Naik remarked, “You should not touch them or refer to them as your daughters.”
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