Sydney, Australia – Lebanese Diplomat Loses ‘Zionist’ Case

    2

    Consul General in Sydney, Robert NaoumSydney, Australia – A top-ranking Lebanese diplomat has lost his bid to stop a website calling him a Zionist after a court ruled the comments were not defamatory.

    Join our WhatsApp group

    Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email


    Lebanon’s Consul General in Sydney, Robert Naoum, was trying to stop comments posted about him on an Arabic-language website through a permanent court order, claiming they threatened his physical safety.

    Mr Naoum argued the “Zionist” comments made on the website owned by Sydney man Nabil Dannawi, wrongly suggested he supported the Jewish right to the state of Israel – something the Consul General took offence to given the tense situation between the two countries.

    The term “Zionist” is also sometimes used as a derogatory word to express anti-Jewish sentiment.

    In making his ruling, New South Wales Supreme Court Justice Ian Harrison noted that in addition to the consistent references to Mr Naoum being a Zionist or a Zionist supporter, the site also made reference to swords, bombs, Biblical revenge, Judas and the Mafia.

    While Justice Harrison ruled the comments were offensive, he said they were “likely to be treated by the objective reader as no more and no less than a series of unstructured and irrelevant rantings”.

    Mr Naoum tried to appeal the finding, but it was thrown out of the NSW Court of Appeal.

    He was ordered to pay Mr Dannawi’s legal fees, which his website reported were about $60,000.


    Listen to the VINnews podcast on:

    iTunes | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Podbean | Amazon

    Follow VINnews for Breaking News Updates


    Connect with VINnews

    Join our WhatsApp group


    2 Comments
    Most Voted
    Newest Oldest
    Inline Feedbacks
    View all comments
    Authentic Londoner
    Authentic Londoner
    14 years ago

    Pity they both could not lose

    Sydney Sider
    Sydney Sider
    14 years ago

    It is unfortunate that we as Jews have to put up with such stupidity, but if you think that’s bad have a read of the comments about Israel and the Jewish people on the Australian Arabic website. A difference can only be made if both groups come to the party. You may eventually make a difference, but at the cost of how many jewish lives. I suggest you wake up!