Sheikh v Associated Newspapers Ltd [2019] EWHC 2947 (QB) (04 November 2019)

Sheikh v Associated Newspapers Ltd [2019] EWHC 2947 (QB) (04 November 2019)

The Article, in its natural and ordinary meaning, conveys that Lord Sheikh has a long history of support for, or close association with, people and organisations that express or hold anti-Semitic and other extremist views and attitudes, which provides strong grounds for suspecting that he is secretly an anti-Semite who approves of and sympathises with Holocaust denial, Islamist jihad, and hate-preaching, which he is prepared knowingly and actively to support. This is a statement of fact, not opinion. The Article does not directly allege that Lord Sheikh is a supporter of such ideologies, nor does it bear the innuendo meaning alleged by the claimant. The bulk of the Article is factual...

Citation
[2019] EWHC 2947
Parties
Claimant: Lord Mohamed Sheikh; Defendant: Associated Newspapers Limited
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
04 November 2019
Procedural Posture
Libel (defamation) / Judgment on Preliminary Issues of Meaning and Fact/opinion
Outcome
Determination of preliminary issues: Article conveys strong grounds to suspect claimant's support for extremist ideologies (Chase Level Two), not direct allegation of support (Chase Level One); meaning is factual, not opinion; no innuendo meaning found.
Legal Topics
Libel, Defamation Act 2013, Meaning of Defamatory Statements, Fact Vs Opinion, Innuendo Meaning, Chase Levels
Media Law Defamation Libel Defamation Act 2013 Meaning of Defamatory Statements Fact Vs Opinion Innuendo Meaning Chase Levels

Case Brief

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Parties

Lord Mohamed Sheikh

Claimant

Associated Newspapers Limited

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Libel (defamation) / Judgment on Preliminary Issues of Meaning and Fact/opinion

Legal Issues

  1. 1 What is the natural and ordinary meaning of the words and photographs complained of in the Article?
  2. 2 Are the meanings statements of fact or expressions of opinion?
  3. 3 Does the Article bear an innuendo meaning as alleged by the claimant?

Ratio Decidendi

The Article, in its natural and ordinary meaning, conveys that Lord Sheikh has a long history of support for, or close association with, people and organisations that express or hold anti-Semitic and other extremist views and attitudes, which provides strong grounds for suspecting that he is secretly an anti-Semite who approves of and sympathises with Holocaust denial, Islamist jihad, and hate-preaching, which he is prepared knowingly and actively to support. This is a statement of fact, not opinion. The Article does not directly allege that Lord Sheikh is a supporter of such ideologies, nor does it bear the innuendo meaning alleged by the claimant. The bulk of the Article is factual...

Court Disposition

Determination of preliminary issues: Article conveys strong grounds to suspect claimant's support for extremist ideologies (Chase Level Two), not direct allegation of support (Chase Level One); meaning is factual, not opinion; no innuendo meaning found.