View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Archive content
July 11, 2006updated 22 Nov 2022 8:09pm

Journalist says £175k libel win sends clear message

By Press Gazette

A 25 year-old investigative journalist who has worked for the BBC
and ITV has been awarded £175,000 at the Royal Courts of Justice
following his victory over an Albanian newspaper which accused him of
being a terrorist.

Muhamed Veliu, an Albanian born journalist,
has been fighting the case since the newspaper Bota Sot alleged that he
was a bogus asylum seeker linked to the 7/7 bombers.

Veliu said:
“This sends a clear message to people that I do not have any connection
to terrorism and refutes the accusation by Bota Sot who were aiming to
destroy my career which I have spent five years trying to build up.”

In his judgement today Mr Justice Eady said that there has never been “any suggestion that the story was true”.

Eady said: "There is no doubt that the allegation made against the claimant in this article was one of the gravest imaginable.

"He
confirmed that, as one would expect, he suffered great distress and
embarrassment and was indeed anxious for his physical safety.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network