A Conservative member of the House of Lords, Jacqueline Foster, has been compelled to issue an apology and pay significant damages to Melika Gorgianeh, a Muslim student from the University of Oxford. Gorgianeh, who appeared on the BBC's University Challenge, was falsely accused by Foster of anti-Semitism due to her team's use of a blue octopus mascot and her wearing a jacket, which Foster wrongly claimed symbolized antisemitism and compared to the colors of the Palestinian flag. The jacket was from Zara, and the episode was filmed last March. The accusation led to Gorgianeh receiving death threats and substantial abuse, prompting legal action. Rahman Lowe, representing Gorgianeh, secured significant compensation for the false allegations, which had a profound and deeply damaging impact on Gorgianeh's life. Foster's apology was made public, and she was required to tag the Prime Minister and others in her apology, mimicking her initial defamation act.
A Muslim woman who appeared on a popular UK quiz show has won substantial damages and an apology from a Conservative peer who falsely accused her of antisemitism https://t.co/Yivf6MVqSd
Melika Gorgianeh received death threats and abuse after Baroness Jacqueline Foster claimed on social media platform X that the second-year PhD student at Oxford University displayed an antisemitic symbol during her appearance on University Challenge https://t.co/Yivf6MVqSd
A Muslim quiz show contestant won damages and an apology from Tory peer Baroness Foster for falsely accusing her of antisemitism, which led to abuse. Foster admitted her error, apologised publicly, and agreed to pay damages https://t.co/Yivf6MVqSd
Melika Gorgianeh took legal action after she received death threats following Jacqueline Foster's false claim that an octopus cuddly toy used as a mascot on the show was an antisemitic symbol https://t.co/Yivf6MVqSd
Damning words from the Oxford Student who was smeared as an antisemite by a peer who, I would suggest, could do with spending a bit less time online https://t.co/xHR5YHl7zs https://t.co/trwQBueWyk
University Challenge student gets payout from Tory peer over antisemitism claim https://t.co/jXBmVeQQzX
At the bottom of Baroness Foster’s apology you will see she has tagged the Prime Minister and others. This is because she tagged them all when she defamed our client and so she was require to do the same again. #BaronessFoster #MelikaGorgianeh https://t.co/f4RgkX3zss
"Her quiz team had a blue octopus as its mascot which Lady Foster wrongly claimed was intended as an antisemitic symbol. She also had a jacket which was compared to the colours of the Palestinian flag." The jacket was from Zara, episode filmed last March before Gaza, etc, etc,…
BBC University Challenge 'blue octopus' row: Tory peer issue apology over 'unfounded' antisemitism allegations https://t.co/Blspc0TJWd
More libel news: Tory peer Jacqueline Foster pays "substantial" damages to a University Challenge contestant for claiming her team's octopus soft toy mascot was chosen as an antisemitic symbol. https://t.co/U4nJEnQDe5
Jacqueline Foster, a Conservative member of the House of Lords, is forced to pay damages and apologise to Melika Gorgianeh, of Oxford University, after wrongly accusing her of anti-Semitism. Read more: https://t.co/n9zENbTbNj https://t.co/jTX2oe1nBq
A Conservative member of the House of Lords, Jacqueline Foster, is forced to pay damages and apologise to Melika Gorgianeh, of the University of Oxford, after wrongly accusing her of anti-Semitism during Gorgianeh's appearance on the BBC's University Challenge. Read more:… https://t.co/RFYhED9U3C
'University Challenge' Octopus Row: Conservative Peer Forced To Apologize & Pay Damages To Contestant Accused Of Coded Antisemitic Attack https://t.co/HgQzu7JN36
Rahman Lowe secure significant compensation from Baroness who falsely accused University Challenge student of antisemitism over Blue Octopus mascot “The false allegation of antisemitism has had a profound and deeply damaging impact on my life.“ https://t.co/DxhPGu7Dbm
Remember this unhinged smear? This Tory Baroness has been forced to pay up 👇 https://t.co/N55PIMeX9c
Baroness Foster falsely accused a Muslim student, Ms Gorgianehon, of antisemitism over an octopus mascot on University Challenge (note: the others weren't accused) Foster tried to get Gorgianehon expelled from Oxford She's now been forced to pay *significant compensation* Good https://t.co/t9i0Or6evm https://t.co/R5dpH47bhJ
Rahman Lowe secure significant compensation from Baroness (@jfoster2019) who falsely accused University Challenge student of antisemitism over Blue Octopus mascot @BBCNews. Great work from our @ZillRah7 and Zac Sammour of @11KBW https://t.co/kYRIval9ky