Malaysian police said they were investigating a letter purportedly sent by the Islamic State (IS) terror group, threatening spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar confirmed that a letter was sent to Ravi Shankar over the weekend when he was in Penang for a yoga festival and talk attended by thousands in George Town and Batu Kawan.
The police are trying to track the origin of the letter, which was posted locally to the office of Art of Living’s Malaysian chapter in Shah Alam suburb.
ADVERTISEMENT
The letter, addressed to the manager of a Penang hotel where Ravi Shankar was staying during his visit, featured the black flag of the IS and a picture of a beheaded man.
The letter reportedly warned the manager that his hotel would be “destroyed” if Ravi Shankar was allowed to “carry out his Hindu activities in Malaysia”.
The letter also claimed that Ravi Shankar and his organisation, Art of Living Foundation, were “meddling in the Islamic affairs of Iran and Iraq” and converting Muslims in the Middle East.
ADVERTISEMENT
“If he steps foot in Malaysia, your hotel and venues of his activities will be destroyed and many thousands will die for him. We don’t want Ravi Shankar to step into a Muslim country,” the letter read.
The case is being probed under Section 507 of Malaysia’s Penal Code for criminal intimidation via anonymous communication, according to Penang police chief Abdul Rahim Hanafi.