Saudi Arabia, US main ally in the Arab World, dropped a bombshell on the White House by awarding an Islamic scholar the top prize for describing 9/11 attacks as 'an inside job'.
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Mumbai-based Dr Zakir Naik was among five recipients of the King Faisal international prize, presented by Saudi Arabia’s King Salman at a ceremony on Sunday, AFP reports.
During a video shown at the ceremony Naik said: “Islam is the only religion that can bring peace to the whole of humanity.”
The winners were announced last month at an event which saw Naik described as a renowned authority on comparative religion.
A citation quoted by Arab News said: “He has founded a TV channel called Peace TV, which remains the only channel in the world specialised in comparative religion with huge audience profile.”
In 2008 Naik used a Peace TV broadcast to tell his audience of more than 100 million that George W Bush was behind the 9/11 terrorist attacks and not Al Qaeda.
“Even a fool will know that this was an inside job,” he said.
Prize winners receive a handwritten Arabic certificate commending their work, a 24-carat gold medal and a cash reward. Naik was banned from entering Britain in 2010.
He had been due to give a series of lectures in London and Sheffield but was barred with Home Secretary Theresa May stating: “Numerous comments made by Dr Naik are evidence to me of his unacceptable behaviour.”
The Telegraph at the time reported that Home Office sources said Naik had been filmed on a website stating: “every Muslim should be a terrorist.”
During a video shown at the ceremony Naik said: “Islam is the only religion that can bring peace to the whole of humanity.”
The winners were announced last month at an event which saw Naik described as a renowned authority on comparative religion.
A citation quoted by Arab News said: “He has founded a TV channel called Peace TV, which remains the only channel in the world specialised in comparative religion with huge audience profile.”
In 2008 Naik used a Peace TV broadcast to tell his audience of more than 100 million that George W Bush was behind the 9/11 terrorist attacks and not Al Qaeda.
“Even a fool will know that this was an inside job,” he said.
Prize winners receive a handwritten Arabic certificate commending their work, a 24-carat gold medal and a cash reward. Naik was banned from entering Britain in 2010.
He had been due to give a series of lectures in London and Sheffield but was barred with Home Secretary Theresa May stating: “Numerous comments made by Dr Naik are evidence to me of his unacceptable behaviour.”
The Telegraph at the time reported that Home Office sources said Naik had been filmed on a website stating: “every Muslim should be a terrorist.”