The journalist Andrew Gilligan has said those opposed to “Britain’s fight against terrorism” were awarded a dangerous success last week after The Telegraph apologised to a Muslim mother for falsely linking her to Islamic extremism.
Writing on his personal blog, Gilligan said he was “surprised” by the apology issued to Ifhat Smith.
In January, Gilligan wrote a piece for the Sunday Telegraph claiming Smith exaggerated the circumstances and consequences regarding her son’s referral to Prevent. He went on to say she was linked to the Muslim Brotherhood and further linked her to extremism.
Despite the The Telegraph now saying those links were false, Gilligan remains adamant his “facts” were correct.
On his blog are published links to reports by the right-wing Henry Jackson Society and the Brookings Institute which he believes provide evidence that the Tunisian political party Ennahda – to which Smith is associated – is extremist or “Islamist.” However, a document he cites as evidence of her connection to the party clearly states Ennahda’s aim is to “encourage support for free and fair elections in Tunisia.”
He argues her Twitter posts display “hardline activity” because she criticised London Mayor Sadiq Khan by referring to a well-known Malcolm X quote and expressed support for the NGO Cage.
Gilligan concludes about Ifhat Smith: “Either she must have very good lawyers, or the Telegraph – which got rid of many of its excellent and robust legal team at the same time as it got rid of many of its journalists – must now have very bad ones. Either way, the forces trying to undermine this country’s fight against terror had a result yesterday.”
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He finishes with an invitation for Smith to sue him if he has stated anything misleading about her.
