New York Post columnist Douglas Murray wins libel suit against The Observer

New York Post columnist Douglas Murray won a libel claim Tuesday over an article that falsely accused him of “supporting violent racist attacks” during anti-immigration protests in the UK last year.Murray — a conservative author, journalist and commentator — clinched the victory against the Guardian Media Group over an Aug.11, 2024 column by Kenan Malik in The Observer which mistakenly attributed Murray’s comments from months prior to the widespread unrest surrounding immigration in the UK last summer, Murray announced on X Tuesday.“Legal update: Today I won a major libel claim against Guardian Media / Observer (@guardian) for its lazy journalism,” said Murray — a Post columnist who writes about world and American politics, including the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.

“Last year the paper made very serious and false accusations against me, based on unchecked claims on social media.”In Malik’s piece, he used Murray’s interview with former Deputy Australian Prime Minister John Anderson about Israel and Islam — from six months earlier — claiming that Murray made the comments about migrants during the UK’s protests that erupted after the stabbing of three young girls.Malik’s error was corrected before the piece published online and a correction was issued in the Observer’s print edition.Lawyers for the Guardian Media Group were forced to read a statement in court copping to the error and falsity of Malik’s claims.The outlet also agreed to pay damages and legal fees to Murray, Mediaite first reported.Waves of anti-immigration demonstrations began in the UK last summer following Axel Rudakubana’s stabbing of three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, England.False rumors that Rudakubana was an asylum seeker spread online, stoking growing tensions and sparking the protests — which broke out in 27 cities throughout the UK around mosques and migrant housing.

Cops made 1,280 arrests during the demonstrations and o...