Telegraph apologises and pays damages to Nasim Ashraf and Hafizan Zaman

Rahman Lowe Solicitors successfully represent Nasim Ashraf and Hafizan Zaman with their defamation claim against the Telegraph over alleged ‘Trojan Horse plot’

The Telegraph has today published an apology to Mr Ashraf and Mrs Zaman and agreed to pay them libel damages and legal costs. Zillur Rahman of Rahman Lowe Solicitors along with barrister, Mark Henderson of Doughty Street Chambers, acted for them in their claim concerning ‘Trojan Horse’ allegations.

The defamatory allegations were made by the Telegraph and published in an article on the Telegraph website on 20 February 2017. The impression was given that Mr Ashraf and Mrs Hafizan Zaman were responsible for a ‘Trojan Horse’ plot involving an Islamist campaign of intimidation to take over Clarksfield Primary School in Oldham, with the aim of imposing an aggressive and separatist agenda on the students.

The Telegraph has set the record straight by publishing a statement recognising that the allegations are false and wholly unfounded.

Mr Ashraf and Mrs Zaman are extremely pleased with the outcome. Mr Ashraf said:

“We are very pleased that the Telegraph has apologised for what it accepts are completely false allegations. It is important that journalists report responsibly and not become “churnalists”, churning out any baseless accusation. In today’s times, as falsehood is spread quickly on the internet and accepted as true, this responsibility must be exercised with even greater care. 

Hafizan and I have done nothing but positively contribute in a society, which regrettably, finds many reasons to divide communities and it was therefore surprising to us that we had been targeted in this way.

Whilst we are pleased and relieved that we have been cleared of any wrongdoing by the Telegraph, our struggle for justice shall continue until we have been vindicated by other media outlets who have also churned out similar defamatory allegations against us“. 

Please click here to view the apology.

Our extensive experience of acting in high profile cases 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.