Nadhim Zahawi has today been awarded judgment against Press TV, affiliated to the Iranian state broadcaster, for defamation. Press TV, which is funded by the Iranian government, posted an article about him in July 2015 on its English language website that implied he facilitated the trade of oil between ISIL and the State of Israel.

The article made very seriously untrue and damaging attacks on the MP who is of Kurdish background and was born in Iraq, before coming to the UK when he was a young boy. The Iranian broadcaster did not defend the libel action. The High Court in London will rule on damages and costs at a later hearing.

Nadhim Zahawi said "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 ISIL was seemingly unbelievable. The accusation was clearly calculated to be as damaging as possible to someone from my background.

“Despite having no basis in anything close to reality, except for my having been born in Iraq, rumours spread like wildfire on social media and clearly some people believed them. 

“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. But it was extremely upsetting, worrying and unexpected to have been targeted by a foreign government in this way.  

“This has been a deeply upsetting experience for me. I hope that this libel judgment can draw a line under this episode, and deter outlets such as Press TV from attempting this sort of attack, on anyone, again”.