Successful libel claim outcome for prominent journalist against the Metro

Rahman Lowe Solicitors successfully represented Mr Roshan Salih with his defamation claim against the Metro (Associated Newspapers Ltd).

Mr Salih is a prominent journalist and documentary film presenter. He presents a current affairs programme on Press TV, and in his long career has worked for reputable news organisations such as the ITV, Channel 4, Discovery Channel, Al Jazeera, and Islam Channel. He is the Editor of 5Pillars, a cross-sectarian website, which is the largest regulated Muslim news website in Europe and North America.

A statement has now been published on the Metro website confirming that it has agreed to remove the false allegation, made by republishing a tweet on 28 January 2018, that Mr Salih was a ‘sectarian extremist’. The Metro dissociates itself from the allegation, making clear that the allegation was neither adopted nor endorsed. Mr Salih was successfully represented by Rahman Lowe Solicitors, and counsel Mark Henderson of Doughty Street Chambers.

Mr Salih, a Sunni Muslim, has always been an advocate for peace and unity with Shia Muslims and has written extensively about this and therefore, there was no basis to support the description in the tweet from a member of the public that the Metro published suggesting that he promotes intra-religious conflict.

Speaking today, Mr Salih said:

“I’m pleased that the Metro has acknowledged that it published a baseless allegation and has set the record straight. Anyone who knows me, knows that I abhor sectarianism and have written about this in my book, ‘Confessions of a Muslim Journalist: My life in the mainstream and alternative media’ which has a section dedicated entirely to Sectarianism”.

The Metro has now removed the offending tweet and published the following retraction and clarification online:

“An earlier version of this article included a tweet posted in response to the programme which referred to Roshan Salih as a “sectarian extremist”. The view was that of the individual concerned and was not adopted or endorsed by Metro.co.uk. We are happy to make this clear”.

Our extensive experience of acting in high profile employment and defamation claims means that we are particularly well placed to advise clients whose case may reach the public eye, and to advise on associated matters such as reputation management.

For further information or to discuss a potential claim, please contact us on 0207 956 8699 or info@rllaw.co.uk. We are ranked as a ‘Leading Firm’ in the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners independent guides to the UK Legal Profession.