Mumbai: Controversial televangelist and Islamic preacher Zakir Naik will hold a press conference tomorrow via video conference, the Islamic Research Foundation, which Naik heads, said today.
The announcement came after at least four prominent hotels denied permission to the organization to host the press meet. Speculation has been rife of Naik holding a video conference to respond to the allegations against him.
Earlier, Naik's spokesperson claimed at least four hotels had confirmed availability of venue and some even took the bookings but suddenly cancelled them at the last minute. "The latest is the WTC who called on Wednesday to cancel the booking." He said the IRF was trying to organize an alternate venue on a fresh date.
However, the IRF has now informed that the press conference will be held tomorrow, Thursday, 14 July, 11:30 am at the Mehfil Hall at Agripada in Mumbai.
Naik - at the centre of a storm - is on a lecture tour in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Africa. He is likely to return to Mumbai after some two weeks, the spokesperson said.
While the Shiv Sena and others have called for his arrest, others like the AIMIM have come out in support of Naik, saying he was a victim of witchhunt.
