Tory gets £338,000 payout after winning libel case against Iranian state television channel Press TV
A Conservative candidate has been awarded a £338,000 payout after winning a libel case against Iranian state television channel Press TV.
The channel falsely accused Nadhim Zahawi, who is of Kurdish background and was born in Iraq, of facilitating the trade in oil between Isil and Israel.
The broadcaster has been ordered to pay Mr Zahawi £200,000 in damages and over £138,000 in costs after the judge described the defamatory allegations as "exceptionally grave".
Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, has previously been paid £20,000 for appearances on the channel.
Mr Zahawi said in a statement: “The ludicrous allegation that I, while a Member of Parliament, had firstly betrayed all of my deepest held moral principles, and secondly had somehow managed to avoid international security services, and the law, to personally trade oil with Daesh was of course completely untrue.
"In my role as a member the Foreign Affairs Committee, I have often spoken out against the malign influence Iran has so often chosen to exercise in international affairs. It was of particular note that the libellous article was published on the exact same day that I had publicly criticised Iran in Parliament.
"I hope that this libel judgment can draw a line under this episode and deter outlets such as Press TV, and by extension states such as Iran, from attempting this sort of attack on anyone again.”
