Former Universities Minister Michelle Donelan Ordered to Pay Damages in Defamation Case
A British court has ordered former Universities Minister Michelle Donelan to pay damages in a defamation case brought against her. The ruling stems from comments Michelle Donelan made in 2020 accusing a university professor of expressing support for Hamas on social media.
In a televised interview, Michelle Donelan named Professor Rabie Diab of Bradford University and claimed he had posted in favor of the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Professor Diab denied this and sued the then minister for defamation. He argued the accusations damaged his reputation and career.
The Court’s Ruling
After reviewing the evidence, the court found in favor of Professor Diab. And ruled that Michelle Donelan’s comments were untrue and defamatory. In its ruling, the judge state there was no factual basis for the allegations Michelle Donelan made against the professor regarding Hamas. As a result, Michelle Donelan has now ordered to pay unspecified damages to Professor Diab.
The case marks a significant ruling around freedom of speech. And the need for public officials to base claims on facts. It also highlights the damage that can done to individuals through false accusations, especially those relating to terrorism. Michelle Donelan’s comments were found to have unfairly harmed Professor Diab’s reputation as an academic through unsubstantiated association with Hamas.
