English Defense League founder Tommy Robinson has lost a defamation case brought by a Syrian schoolboy who was caught on camera being attacked at a school in Huddersfield.
After the video went viral in 2018, Robinson claimed in two Facebook videos that Jamal Hijazi was “not innocent and he violently attacks young English girls at his school.”
His lawyers said the comments had “had a devastating effect” on him and his family, who had come to the UK as refugees.
A judgment by Judge Nicklin on Thursday ruled in Jamal’s favor and awarded him £ 100,000 in damages.
Robinson’s Facebook videos in response to the attack at Almondbury Community School in October 2018 have been viewed nearly a million times.
He also claimed Jamal “beat up a black and blue girl” and “threatened to stab” another boy – allegations the teenager denies.
The case went to trial in April and Robinson – who represented himself – argued his comments were essentially true and claimed to have “uncovered dozens of accounts of aggressive, abusive and deceptive behavior” from of the teenager.
Jamal’s lawyer Catrin Evans QC said Robinson’s comments in the videos led to death threats and “extremist agitation” against him.
She had claimed damages of between £ 150,000 and £ 190,000.
More information about this article Read More
Source: news.sky.com
This notice was published: 2021-07-22 13:12:00
