The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) on Sunday backed Zakir Naik stating that the Muslim evangelist was being hunted for unfounded reasons.
Mr. Naik is under the scanner of investigation agencies after Dhaka terror attacks.
IUML national secretary E.T. Mohammed Basheer said Mr. Naik, who proved his capabilities in several religious discourses and spiritual writings, never stayed indoors for any covert anti-national activities.
The man who strove to foster religious harmony and propagate the message of Islamic peace should not be tortured, Mr. Basheer said.
Mr. Basheer also played a video clip in front of journalists in which Mr. Naik was found explaining his stern view against the Islamic State by terming it Anti-Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. The short video also featured him declaring that no Islamic person would try to kill innocent people.
Mr. Basheer alleged that India was currently witnessing a situation where a man who fought religious extremism was purposefully labelled as an extremist for unknown reasons.
