MEMO | June 1, 2013
The London-based Jewish Chronicle has issued an apology to the CEO and trustees of a British relief agency after accusing it of being designated as a terrorist organisation by the US government and diverting donations to fund terror and to support the families of suicide bombers. The newspaper has also paid “substantial damages” to Dr Othman Moqbel, the CEO of Human Appeal International and trustees Dr Hussein Nagi and Mr Mohamad Yousef, as well as their legal costs in respect of action taken in relation to articles published February last year in the JC’s print and web editions.
Dr Moqbel expressed his regret that legal action was necessary. “All of this could have been avoided if the Jewish Chronicle had carried out due diligence,” he said. “We are now focused on rebuilding the reputation and trust of our Charity.”
Human Appeal’s CEO added, “We hope that in future the media will take due care when publishing such serious allegations and will not allow people with an agenda to mislead them.”
Apologising for the offending articles, the Jewish Chronicle said, “We now accept that these allegations are untrue and apologise unreservedly to Human Appeal International and to those individuals who are involved in its operation.” The damages paid to the CEO and trustees are, the JC continued, “an indication of our regret”.
Human Appeal International joins a growing list of Muslim-run British charities which have been successful in challenging through the legal system similar accusations made by the media and other bodies.