Press complaints adjudication

PCC slaps Standard over Islamic bookshop story
Published: Thursday, December 1, 2005
The Evening Standard has been criticised by the Press Complaints Commission for falsely claiming that the owner of an Islamic bookshop was selling "terror" books in the aftermath of the 7 July bombings.
Samir El-Atar, from Dar Al-Taqwa bookshop, complained that the 28 July story headlined: "Terror and hatred for sale yards from Baker Street"
breached clause 1 of the editors' code (accuracy) and clause 2 (right of reply).
El-Atar's bookshop featured prominently in a photograph alongside pictures of three titles that the Standard said advocated terrorism and were sold at premises "such as Dar Al-Taqwa".
El-Atar said he had never sold such books and added that a pamphlet about jihad that was on sale was quoted selectively in the paper and did not incite terror as alleged.
The Standard had quoted the shop's manager making clear his position that he sold mainstream literature. It also later published a clarification — without the complainant's approval — which outlined that the books and DVDs pictured had never been for sale at Dar Al-Taqwa.
The Standard offered to publish an abridged letter from the complainant, but this did not go far enough. A PCC spokesman said: "In this case — given the seriousness of the allegations and the sensitive time at which they were published, shortly after the terrorist attacks — there was an over-riding need to ensure that the information gathered by the paper was accurately presented."
The Press Complaints Commission also concluded that the contents of the pamphlet did not support the "extremely serious" claims in the headline. The commission pointed out that in the "climate of anxiety following the attacks" the consequences could have been "extremely serious", especially considering the shop's address was published.
All contents copyright © 2005 Press Gazette Ltd. All rights reserved.