Keysar Trad defamation case against 2GB's Jason Morrison dismissed
Richard Maxton with AAP
LiveNews
9/7/31
A defamation case taken out against Macquarie Radio by Islamic Friendship Association spokesman Keysar Trad has been dismissed, with the Supreme court judge finding he has racist views.
Two years ago it was ruled 2GB radio broadcaster Jason Morrison had defamed Mr Trad when he labelled him "gutless" and "disgraceful and dangerous" following a speech Mr Trad made over the 2005 Cronulla riots.
A Supreme Court jury found in Mr Trad's favour.
But the jury's decision has been effectively quashed by today's judgement from Justice Peter McClellan.
Justice McClellan ruled that the case should be dismissed, after lawyers for 2GB argued that information claimed to be defamatory was in fact true.
"There is little doubt that many of the plaintiff's remarks are offensive to Jewish persons and homosexuals,"
Justice McClellan said in his judgment.
"Many of his remarks are distasteful and appear to condone violence," the judgment continued.
"I'm satisfied that the plaintiff does hold views which can properly be described as racist.
"I'm also satisfied that he encourages others to hold those views. In particular he holds views derogatory of
Jewish people.
"The views which he holds would not be acceptable to most right-thinking Australians," Justice McClellan's judgment said.
Mr Morrison said it is a relief the matter has finally been resolved.
"I was very pleasantly surprised. These things are tough," he said.
"This has been hanging over me and this radio station for four years and it's not a particularly nice assertion that's been made, so I was very relieved at the judge's decsision."
Lawyer for 2GB's licensee Harbour Radio, Richard McHugh SC, had told the judge the "truth case" largely related to documents, including articles which Mr Trad had admitted writing and media interviews.
He read out parts of an article on homosexuals, submitting the views were "offensive" and showed Mr Trad to be a "disgraceful and dangerous individual".
He also played two radio interviews, where Mr Trad was asked about the comments made by his friend Sheik Alhilali, who had described scantily clad women as "uncovered meat".
Rather than condemning the sheik, Mr Trad was "an apologist for the appalling views" and gave out misinformation about the Islamic community, Mr McHugh said.
Mr Trad's case has been dismissed with costs.
Full judgement
TradvHarbour Radio Pty Ltd 2009 NSWSC 750
Trads thoughts on Racism.
31 7 09 Keysar Trad RACISIM an Islamic Response
Trad has been trashed by justice
Piers Akerman
News.com.au
Friday, July 31, 2009
The more than a decade, the barricade of political correctness which has protected Sydney’s self-proclaimed Islamic spokesman Keysar Trad has been dealt a mortal blow.
Justice Peter McClelland in the NSW Court of Appeal yesterday branded him a dangerous, dishonest, racist person and unbelievable liar.
Overturning a defamation judgement awarded to Trad against 2GB over a broadcast by Jason Morrison on December 19, 2005, Justice McClelland has demolished the nation that Trad is harmless assistant and translator to Lakemba’s Sheikh Taj el-Din al-Hilali, who in 2006 was the Mufti of Australia.
Trad had claimed he was defamed in a Morrison broadcast which followed a so-called “peace rally” the previous
day in which Morrison commented on a number of reports of the rally.
Like most of “peace” rallies, the gathering was aggressive and attended by the usual radicals protesting about most things that keep the world safe.
He said that he was satisfied that Trad holds views which can “properly be described as racist” and that he was “also satisfied that he encourages others to hold those views”.
In particular, he said, he holds views derogatory of Jewish people. The views which he holds would not be acceptable to most right thinking Australians.
He went on to say that Trad’s defence of al-Hilali’s description of suicide bombing as a legitimate tool, and his call for the delisting of Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation were dangerous remarks.
The support of the use of boys as martyrs in war was obviously dangerous.
He found that “various of the plaintiff’s actions including the material on his website were designed to contribute to anti-Semitism in the Australian community” and that “these views encouraged division and hostility between Muslims and non-Muslims in Australia”.
He also said that, in his judgement, Trad was a dangerous person because he incited violence or disparagement of women, Jews and homosexuals though his views.
He said he was a disgrace because he encouraged others to support attitudes repugnant to the Australian community.
He said Trad was not a reliable witness and said it was disingenuous to claim that he did recall that Adolf Hitler wrote Mein Kampf.
"A Dangerous Racist"
“I am satisfied that his answers were dishonest,” McClelland said.
Let it not be forgotten that al-Hilali is in Australia because former Prime Minister Paul Keating ignored warnings from the Department of Immigration and security services.
Trad has made a career out of supporting al-Hilali, during which he has lived on welfare benefits.
The ABC and SBS have given Trad a platform and quasi-legitimacy by unquestioningly permitting him access to their airwaves and seeking him out for comment.
He should be sent to Coventry now Justice McClelland has exposed the true nature of the beast.