British-Palestinian Zaher Birawi has agreed to accept a settlement after the World-Check site wrongly listed him on its terrorism categorization.
Refinitiv Ltd, which owns World-Check – which describes itself as a database of Politically Exposed Persons and heightened risk individuals and organizations, has agreed to pay Birawi compensation for damages caused as a result of the error in the listing, a press release by the chairman of EuroPal Forum said.
An important development after British journalist @zaher_birawi from @EuroPalForum was shamefully included on a list of terrorism.
His name being removed from such a list is a welcome victory for justice. Although it should never have been included in the first place. 1/ https://t.co/9yLZewvpA1
— Palestine Deep Dive (@PDeepdive) January 12, 2021
“Following two and a half years of continuous efforts, my legal team, authorized to pursue this case on my behalf, succeeded in forcing World-Check, (owned by Refinitiv Ltd), to remove my name from its lists, where it wrongly and without justification or evidence, classified me on its Terrorism list,” Birawi explained.
“My legal team relied primarily on the fact that there has never been any legal sentence passed against me by any official authority in any state anywhere in the world, and that never have I been found to have been involved in any illegal acts which could be deemed within the scope of terrorism crimes.”
“World-Check”, he continued, “relied on this ‘Terrorism’ classification based on lists prepared by the State of Israel, as well as inaccurate news websites that were likely driven by political motives and agendas not based on objective evidence.”
I wholeheartedly thank my legal team for this victory and affirm that all attempts to tarnish my standing will not affect my determination to stand for the cause of my people.
Link to my full press release: https://t.co/RmIRLY9t3L
(3/3)
— zaher birawi (@zaher_birawi) January 12, 2021
“I have no doubt that everything that was published in these sources was due to my active role in defending the rights of my Palestinian people who live under occupation and because of my political activities to expose the racism of the Israeli occupation state.”
He continued:
“I wish … to affirm that all attempts to tarnish my reputation will never affect my determination to pursue my duties and political activities in Europe to defend a cause which I see as my national cause and the rights of my people who live under the racist Israeli occupation regime, nor will they stop or hinder my efforts towards exposing the racism and crimes of the occupation state.”
In a statement to the Palestine Chronicle, a spokesperson for the World-Check company said:
“World-Check is one of many sources used by banks and other businesses to help them meet their regulatory requirements and identify potential financial and related crimes such as money laundering and the financing of terrorism. World-Check does not perform a law enforcement function and does not have the authority to designate any person or group as a terrorist. If there is reliable information in the public domain linking an individual or group to terrorism this is reflected in World-Check. In the event this information is incorrect or updated, we will reflect this in World-Check.”
“If there is reliable information in the public domain linking an individual or group to terrorism this is reflected in World-Check. In the event this information is incorrect or updated, we will reflect this in World-Check.”
To read Mr. Birawi’s statement in full, please click here. (PDF)
(Middle East Monitor, Social Media)
