The Sun dan Sunday Times, Diharuskan Membayar Ganti Rugi Kepada Penyanyi Yusuf Islam

The Sun dan Sunday Times, diharuskan membayar ganti rugi kepada penyanyi Yusuf Islam

SUMBER: TEMPOINTERAKTIF

Dua koran Inggris, The Sun dan Sunday Times, diharuskan membayar ganti rugi kepada penyanyi Yusuf Islam untuk pencemaran nama baik.

Selain menuding penyanyi berusia 57 tahun itu telah mendukung terorisme, dalam artikel yang dimuat pada Oktober 2004, kedua koran itu juga mendukung pencekalan Yusuf oleh pihak imigrasi Amerika Serikat saat ia mencoba masuk negeri itu.


Tudingan itu rontok di pengadilan. Yusuf berencana menyumbangkan ganti rugi itu—belum jelas berapa besarnya—kepada korban tsunami di Asia Tenggara.

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BERITA TERKAIT DALAM BAHASA INGGRIS
The Sun and Sunday Times Agree to Pay Substantial Libel Damages to Yusuf Islam

SOURCE: www.prnewswire.co.uk

LONDON, February 15 /PRNewswire/ — The UK’s Sunday Times and Sun newspapers have agreed to pay Yusuf Islam (formerly known as the singer Cat Stevens) substantial damages in respect of articles published on 17th and 19th October 2004.

Both reports falsely alleged that Yusuf Islam was or had been involved in supporting terrorism and suggested that, as a result, the US authorities had been right to refuse Mr Islam entry into the United States in September 2004.

As well as agreeing to pay substantial damages in relation to these false and highly defamatory allegations, both newspapers also published prominent apologies in which they acknowledged that Mr Islam is not, and never has been, involved in or supported terrorism, and that he abhors all such activities. Indeed, in apologising to Mr Islam both newspapers also pointed out that Mr Islam was recently presented with the “Man for Peace” award by a group of Nobel peace Laureates. The newspapers have undertaken not to repeat these false allegations and also agreed to pay Mr Islam’s legal costs.

Mr Islam said: “It seems to be the easiest thing in the world these days to make scurrilous accusations against Muslims, and in my case it directly impacts on my relief work and damages my reputation as an artist. The harm done is often difficult to repair. However, I am delighted by the settlement, which helps vindicate my character and good name.”

Yusuf Islam intends to contribute the damages from both newspapers to relief projects for orphans which he has started in tsunami-hit South East Asia. He visited Indonesia in January and is set to release a charity single entitled Indian Ocean later this month, the proceeds of which will go to the same children’s fund.

“I have been supporting orphans and needy families for many years now,” continued Mr Islam, “and I don’t intend to stop. I have never knowingly aided any terrorist group or any charitable organization that equips or supports terrorists. I will continue working for peace and supporting the poor and destitute around the world.”

Controversy has surrounded the singer since he and his daughter were removed from a Washington-bound flight last September. US officials said at the time that his name was on a ‘no-fly’ list but did not say why. Ironically, only two months previously he was invited to the White House where he discussed his Small Kindness charity projects with President Bush’s Inter-Faith Initiative officials and was even invited to meet the President himself.

“Six months after the fiasco of my deportation from the USA, my formal requests for clarification from the authorities there are seemingly being ignored,” said Mr Islam. “Instead, I am hearing reports second, third or even fourth-hand through the media citing US officials attempting to offer explanations for why the government has seen fit to include me on its ‘no-fly’ list. Of course, I vehemently challenge any and all of these unsubstantiated reasons; why didn’t they confront me with all of this information when I was in their presence after my flight was diverted? I am still waiting for an explanation. I should also add that the UK’s Foreign Office has been extremely supportive of my position throughout,” he said.

Allegations recently published by another newspaper, The Sunday Telegraph (13 February, 2005), suggested that one of the undisclosed causes for the US authority’s decision was because of a claim that Yusuf Islam donated to a UK charity nine years ago. It transpires, however, that this amounted to but a single donation dating back sixteen years for the express purpose of purchasing a vehicle to collect old clothes gifted to the needy. “These latest insinuations are quite outrageous,” complained Mr Islam. “They’ve even printed an outdated picture of me in a turban taken ten years ago to add a touch of ‘Taliban’ image to it. It’s all spin. To imply that donations like that are intended for terrorist activities is the greatest slur imaginable on those who show a bit of human compassion towards the poor. People seem to forget that I also completely condemned the 9/11 attacks and donated money to the victims of that atrocity.”

Born Steven Demetre Georgiou, the son of a Greek Cypriot father and Swedish mother, Cat Stevens left the music business behind him in 1977 and embraced the Islamic faith. Today, as Yusuf Islam, he is arguably one of its most famous converts. “Yet ever since I became a Muslim,” stated Mr Islam, “I’ve had to deal with attempts to damage my reputation and countless insinuations seeking to cast doubt on my character and trying to connect me to causes, concepts or sayings which I do not and would never wilfully subscribe to.”

Many Muslims have expressed concern that a deliberate smear campaign is being waged against prominent Islamic personalities and organizations under the pretext of a ‘war on terror’.

“At least the money gained through taking legal recourse to clear my name is going to good causes - but I could do without the headache quite frankly,” said Mr Islam.

http://www.yusufislam.org.uk