Social media has been buzzing with claims that Zakir Naik, a wanted Indian Muslim preacher currently residing in Malaysia, is suffering from AIDS. These rumors have caused a stir online. Naik, who is 59 years old and faces charges in India related to religious extremism, has addressed the claims through his lawyer. The lawyer stated that the reports circulating on social media are false and aimed at weakening Naik. A Malaysian newspaper, Sinar Daily, published a report quoting Naik’s denial, where he refuted the AIDS allegations entirely. The lawyer also asserted that Naik is in good health and dismissed claims that the Islamic preacher is receiving AIDS treatment at a private hospital in Klang Valley. Naik’s legal representative has accused individuals of spreading false information to defame him and is taking steps to identify the source of the rumors. Legal action will be pursued if the individual is based in Malaysia. The rumors began on September 8th when a social media user named Fatima Khan first posted about Naik’s alleged condition. This was followed by several other posts regarding Naik. Naik has been inactive in public life for the past 10 months, with his last public statement dating back to November 2024, where he addressed questions about India and Hinduism. Naik fled India in 2016 and has since obtained Malaysian citizenship. He is wanted in India on charges of terrorism and money laundering. During an interview in Pakistan, Naik mentioned his fear of returning to India, which led him to remain in Malaysia.
