COMMENT | More than a year ago, I received a phone call from an Indian journalist based in Mumbai. She wanted to know details of a supposed extradition application made by the Indian government to extradite religious preacher Zakir Naik. I told her that I had not been following the case and sent her a copy of the extradition treaty signed by both countries.

Race and religion has never been my forte and I followed the antics of this preacher through media reports – initially for laughs because his theories were out of this world. I had then concluded that he was just another snake oil salesman trying to justify his stay in the country using religion.

That was until last Saturday, when I received a video clip from Patrick “The Voice” Teoh with a telling message: “Nades, have you seen the video of Zakir Naik being driven into a stadium and given a rock star welcome? What is happening to our country and what can we do about it? Each day the man is here, he is destroying more and more of our already delicate social, cultural and religious fabric. How long can this go on before we are torn apart? Forever.”

The long weekend afforded the opportunity to view many video clips of his teachings propagating Islam. No one should have an issue with that. He had nothing good to say about other religions. I have no problems with that too.

However, in the process, he was degrading and criticising other religions as if he was an expert on all religions...