An Indian Muslim televangelist recently banned from Canada for his inflammatory statements
about Jews, gays, and the West, will still headline a massive Islamic conference in Toronto
addressing upwards of 10,000 attendees via video satellite.
The Journey of Faith Conference — billed as North America’s largest Islamic conference —
will “go on as planned” despite Dr. Zakir Naik’s exclusion from Canada, according to the event
website.
Dr. Naik, president of the Mumbai-based Islamic Research Foundation, had been denied a visa
to enter Canada because of past comments such as “every Muslim should be a terrorist,” Jews
are “our staunchest enemy,” and “If [Osama bin Laden] is fighting the enemies of Islam, I am for
him.”
Dr. Naik — who has spoken several times at the annual Reviving the Islamic Spirit convention
in Toronto — has garnered headlines in Canada in the past. In 2006, the National Post
reported that one of the Toronto 18 terrorist suspects had urged Muslim youth to seek out the
televangelist’s teachings.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada declined to comment yesterday, citing the Privacy Act.
