India | Posted on Jun 27, 2010 at 01:57pm IST

Muslim preacher set to challenge UK visa ban

Yogita Limaye Yogita Limaye, CNN-IBN

Mumbai: Indian Islamic preacher Zakir Naik is getting set to legally challenge his visa ban by the UK home secretary Theresa May.

Zakir Naik's 5 year visa granted to him in July 2008 was revoked less than 12 hours before he was to fly to the UK and now Canada too has followed suit.

Zakir Naik said, “They have arbitrarily revoked it.. it's inhuman and unethical...and I will challenge it.

Official communication from the UK home department says:

"The Secretary of State has decided to exclude you from the UK for engaging in unacceptable behaviour by making statements that attempt to justify terrorists and fostering hatred. There is no right to appeal against this decision "

However, Naik's lawyer contends that the statements referred to by the home secretary have been quoted out of context and they were made prior to 2008 after which he was granted a visa.

Why then was his VISA suddenly revoked in 2010?

Majeed Memon, Naik's Lawyer said, “In 2008, he was granted visa, granting or denial of visa is a sovereign state's discretion, but revoking it without any proper reason.. that is not.”

The UK Home secretary said, "Coming to the UK is a privilege, not a right and I am not willing to allow those who might not be conducive to the public good to enter the UK."

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