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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/feb/01/finsbury-park-mosque-wins-apology-and-damages-from-reuters
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| Finsbury Park mosque wins apology and damages from Thomson Reuters | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A north London mosque has won an apology and damages from the financial information company Thomson Reuters after it was erroneously included on a global database linking it to terrorism activities. | |
| Finsbury Park mosque said Thomson Reuters had agreed to pay a five-figure sum in damages and legal costs as well as making a statement of regret. | |
| World-Check, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters, compiled the database for leading banks, financial institutions and other financial services organisations. | |
| Following the subscription-only risk assessment, the mosque’s bank closed its account, and other banks refused to take the mosque’s custom. | Following the subscription-only risk assessment, the mosque’s bank closed its account, and other banks refused to take the mosque’s custom. |
| Sara Monsoori, representing the company that now runs the mosque, said in a statement in open court that the mosque was the subject of profile reports that placed it in the “terrorism” category. “This was wrong,” she told deputy high court judge Richard Parkes QC. | Sara Monsoori, representing the company that now runs the mosque, said in a statement in open court that the mosque was the subject of profile reports that placed it in the “terrorism” category. “This was wrong,” she told deputy high court judge Richard Parkes QC. |
| “The profile referred to press reports and allegations from many years ago, long before the mosque was reorganised and the claimant company was established.” | “The profile referred to press reports and allegations from many years ago, long before the mosque was reorganised and the claimant company was established.” |
| Following publication of the profile, the mosque’s bank “terminated its banking relationship and closed its account”. | Following publication of the profile, the mosque’s bank “terminated its banking relationship and closed its account”. |
| The agency had admitted its report “made the false allegation that there were grounds to suspect that the claimant had continued connections to terrorism”, Monsoori said. | The agency had admitted its report “made the false allegation that there were grounds to suspect that the claimant had continued connections to terrorism”, Monsoori said. |
| She added that Thomson Reuters had stated it did not intend to suggest “that the claimant had any current or suspected connections to terrorism, and any such suggestions have now been withdrawn by the defendant which has made clear its regret”. | |
| It had removed the defamatory allegations and agreed to pay damages and the mosque company’s legal costs to settle the legal action, Monsoori said. | It had removed the defamatory allegations and agreed to pay damages and the mosque company’s legal costs to settle the legal action, Monsoori said. |
| Oliver Murphy, appearing for Thomson Reuters, confirmed Monsoori’s statement to the court, adding: “The defendant is here today through me to express its regret for publishing the allegations.” | |
| Finsbury Park mosque was associated with the radical cleric Abu Hamza until 2005, when it was taken over by new management. Now led by Mohamed Kozbar, it is seen as a model of community relations. | Finsbury Park mosque was associated with the radical cleric Abu Hamza until 2005, when it was taken over by new management. Now led by Mohamed Kozbar, it is seen as a model of community relations. |
| Monsoori said the mosque’s management company started proceedings for libel against Reuters Ltd in March 2016. | Monsoori said the mosque’s management company started proceedings for libel against Reuters Ltd in March 2016. |
| The mosque said in a statement: “It is unacceptable that any organisation is able to designate people as terrorists on the basis of poor research and for those people to be labelled without any recourse to truth or justice.” | The mosque said in a statement: “It is unacceptable that any organisation is able to designate people as terrorists on the basis of poor research and for those people to be labelled without any recourse to truth or justice.” |