Begg v British Broadcasting Corporation [2016] EWHC 2688 (QB) (28 October 2016)

Begg v British Broadcasting Corporation [2016] EWHC 2688 (QB) (28 October 2016)

The court found that the words complained of meant the Claimant is an extremist Islamic speaker who espouses extremist Islamic positions and had recently promoted and encouraged religious violence by telling Muslims that violence in support of Islam would constitute a man's greatest deed. The BBC proved, on the balance of probabilities, that the substance of these allegations was substantially true, based on the Claimant's previous speeches and utterances between 2006 and 2011, which promoted and encouraged violence in support of Islam as a great deed. The defence of justification succeeded.

Citation
[2016] EWHC 2688 (QB)
Parties
Claimant: Shakeel Begg; Defendant: British Broadcasting Corporation
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
28 October 2016
Procedural Posture
Defamation (libel) / High Court Trial, Final Judgment
Outcome
Claim dismissed
Legal Topics
Libel, Justification Defence, Meaning of Defamatory Words, Freedom of Expression, Role of Religious Leaders, Community Reputation
Defamation Media Law Libel Justification Defence Meaning of Defamatory Words Freedom of Expression Role of Religious Leaders Community Reputation

Case Brief

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Parties

Shakeel Begg

Claimant

British Broadcasting Corporation

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Defamation (libel) / High Court Trial, Final Judgment

Legal Issues

  1. 1 What is the meaning of the words complained of in the BBC broadcast?
  2. 2 Are the words complained of substantially true (justification)?
  3. 3 If not, what remedies should be granted?

Ratio Decidendi

The court found that the words complained of meant the Claimant is an extremist Islamic speaker who espouses extremist Islamic positions and had recently promoted and encouraged religious violence by telling Muslims that violence in support of Islam would constitute a man's greatest deed. The BBC proved, on the balance of probabilities, that the substance of these allegations was substantially true, based on the Claimant's previous speeches and utterances between 2006 and 2011, which promoted and encouraged violence in support of Islam as a great deed. The defence of justification succeeded.

Court Disposition

Claim dismissed

Orders

  • Claim for libel dismissed
  • No damages awarded to the Claimant