Controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik has claimed that he was offered citizenship by at least 10 governments.

Zakir, who is wanted for terrorism and money laundering probes in his native India, added that he has not accepted any of the citizenship offered.

“I have not made up my mind about whether I should take up another citizenship because of the difficulties I am facing on the basis of baseless charges (brought by India).

“By God’s grace, I have been offered citizenship by at least 10 Islamic nations.

“Maybe in the future I will accept if appropriate, as even according to (Islamic texts), if people are persecuting me for my thoughts, I have to protect myself,” he had reportedly said in an interview aired on a Saudi Arabian channel, as reported by New Delhi-based newspaper The Hindu last Friday.

Previously, Malaysian Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi revealed that Zakir had been granted permanent resident (PR) status here, five years ago.

It was also reported that Zakir uses Malaysia as a base and travels frequently to Saudi Arabia.

The preacher has been banned from several countries, such as the UK and Canada for his speeches, which were deemed inflammatory.

Indian authorities are also currently investigating Zakir on terrorism and money laundering charges.

India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) had previously approached Interpol to issue a Red Corner Notice against Zakir, to declare him as an international fugitive who could be arrested by any agency around the world.

This follows the NIA’s year-long investigation into Zakir’s Islamic Research Foundation and Peace TV.

The Indian government has since banned the foundation and taken the TV channel off the air.