PRESS RELEASE 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Apr. 23, 2019

LONDON: On 16 April 2019, Al Muntada Al Islami Trust (‘Al Muntada’) won substantial damages in the High Court of Kano, Nigeria, against allegations made in 2012 by the Nigerian Tribune newspaper of links to terrorism. African Newspapers of Nigeria PLC — publishers of the Tribune — were ordered to pay N50,000,000 (Fifty Million Naira; US $139,999) in damages to Al Muntada.

The High Court found the original newspaper article was defamatory towards Al Muntada. It further issued an injunction in perpetuity prohibiting the newspaper from publishing any libellous or defamatory statements regarding the Trust. The defendants were ordered by the court to write an apology to Al Muntada Trust.

The case began when the Nigerian Tribune published the article “Boko Haram Funding Traced to UK, S/Arabia — Sect Planned to Turn Nigeria into Afghanistan — Arrested Kingpin Opens Up” (13 February 2012). International media outlets, academics, and politicians subsequently used this singular article to repeat the allegations that Al Muntada was linked to Boko Haram, permanently damaging its reputation at home and overseas.

The Trust immediately sued the Tribune, and after seven years of protracted legal proceedings won in the High Court on April 16, 2019. The false allegations remain referenced however, online, in books and scholarly journals, and by various international governments and agencies.

Dr Saeed Al-Gadi, General Supervisor of Al Muntada stated after the High Court win, “We will now ensure all steps are taken to fully restore Al Muntada’s exemplary reputation” and that its charitable activities “continue unburdened by the weight of these malicious and fabricated stories”.

A registered charity in England and Wales (293355), Al Muntada is headquartered in London and has been proudly serving the local community in addition to impoverished nations overseas, providing emergency relief, food and medical assistance, water and sanitation aid, and building and educational support.

Press enquiries:

PR@almuntadatrust.org

Tel: +44 (0)207 471 8263

Enc: High Court Judgment

Al Muntada Al-Islami Trust condemns in the strongest expression the terrorist and the barbaric attacks on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand today. This is a brutal act against the Muslim community and the people of New Zealand.

There is no phrase that can describe this coward, radical and brutal attack on civilian worshipers in broad daylight. These attacks are not an act of individuals; they are the results of the irresponsible promotion of Islamophobia by many writers, politicians and media outlets. The promotion of hatred towards Muslims must end. Those extremist and radical people must be taken to account and the root of this extremist ideology must be eliminated.

Our hearts are with the dead who fell in this attack and we ask Allah to make them martyrs who said about such people in the chapter 3 verse 169: “and never think of those who have been killed in the cause of Allah as dead. Rather, they are alive with their Lord, receiving provision”.

We ask the Almighty to grant a speedy recovery to all those who were injured in the attack. We pray that he gives patience to the bereaved families in this calamity and during this extremely difficult time.

We ask our community members to stay vigilant and to report any suspicious behavior to the Police. If the aim of these barbaric attacks is to break our connections with our Masjids, we should do the opposite and strengthen our relationship with them. We urge our community members to read the “the Incident Management Guide for Faith Communities” article, which gives detailed guidelines in how to deal with any suspicious behavior.

We pray for the martyred, the wounded and their families and we ask the Almighty to protect our Muslim communities in the UK and worldwide from any harm.

Al-Muntada Al-Islami Trust

www.almuntadatrust.org | E-mail: director@almuntadatrust.org | Charity: 293355

Press Statement

July 20^th 2017

Al Muntada Trust responds to the Henry Jackson Society report –  Centre for the Response to Radicalisation and Terrorism Research Paper No:9 (2017) July 2017

We strongly and unequivocally condemn all forms of extremism, radicalism, intolerance and violence including Islamophobia in all its forms.

We have recently been the subject of unfair, unfounded, inaccurate and biased reports making hostile islamophobic allegations against us.

We have repeatedly asked for evidence to support these accusations, but none has been forthcoming. Allegations against us have been made without us being given the opportunity to put forward our side. This goes against the fundamental principles of fairness, justice and rule of law.

We are regulated and governed by the Laws of England and Wales and the regulations of the Charity Commission, if any of these allegations were substantiated then we would not be able to operate in the United Kingdom. We operate within the Law and Charity Commission regulations and guidelines.

Organisations such as ours provide an invaluable and indispensable service to the community in London and across the UK, especially for the most vulnerable such as the homeless, the destitute, single mothers, the youth and for others after genuine attacks and tragic fires. These false allegations are a detriment to our charitable work, they prevent us from concentrating all our efforts on helping the poor and needy and divert our resources and time to defending ourselves against these hostile unfair, unsubstantiated attacks.

We request that before publishing, regurgitating and circulating old, unsubstantiated fake news, all organisations, academics and institutions verify the facts and give the accused the opportunity to respond before publishing such material.

We clearly understand that certain organisations publishing and circulating these allegations have their own agenda and are not interested in reporting facts but they are using Islamophobia as the main motivating factor for further military intervention in the international arena.

We condemn the said report and invite all parties concerned to contact us directly to obtain our answers to these false allegations before publishing and circulating this report as fact.

Dr Saeed Al Ghadie – Al Muntada Trust

Press Statement – London Terror Attack June 3

Our thoughts are with all the victims and their families who were affected by the terror attack in London yesterday.

Al Muntada Trust sta­nds united with Lond­on and communities across the country against all acts of terrorism.

These acts of terror have nothing to do with our religion. In fact, they are extremely against the very principals, foundations and teachings of Islam. We will co­ntinue to work to br­ing communities of all faiths together, and to help those who are in need.