High Court Dismisses SFJ UK's Libel Suit Against Lord Rami Ranger
In a recent ruling, a UK High Court judge struck down the libel claim filed by the UK branch of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) against the Conservative peer and millionaire businessman, Lord Rami Ranger. However, the court allowed the defamation case brought by the US-based SFJ general counsel, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, to move forward.
The £500,000 Defamation Claim
The dispute revolves around public statements made by Lord Ranger, who chairs the British Sikh Association. In a 2021 interview with Pakistan Daily and a follow-up tweet, Ranger accused SFJ and Pannun of receiving financial support from "the enemies of India." Ranger claimed that SFJ misleads the public by exaggerating claims of mistreatment and atrocities against Sikhs in Punjab to divert funds meant for Sikh places of worship.
“They are misleading the public that there are atrocities in Punjab and Sikhs are being badly treated, and all that nonsense, in order to capture the money which is coming to gurdwaras,”
The article, published on November 30, 2021, carried the headline "Lord Ranger questions faith, funding of Sikh separatist leader."
Claims and Court’s Analysis
Both SFJ UK and Pannun, who lives in New York and is designated as a terrorist by the Indian government, argued that these statements damaged their reputations. They sought damages and an injunction, stating the article implied they were funded by Pakistan and its intelligence agency, ISI, portraying them as dishonest about their funding sources. Pannun’s claim emphasized that the allegations were aimed at discrediting his efforts to highlight Sikh suffering in Punjab.
Justice Jay dismissed the SFJ UK claim entirely, describing the case as a "storm in a teacup." He pointed out that the article exclusively referenced the US-based SFJ, with no direct mention of its UK counterpart. Attempts by SFJ UK's lawyer to infer the group's involvement from context were rejected.
The judge also noted that although Pakistan and India are recognized adversaries, the article contained no suggestion that SFJ or Pannun were agents of Pakistan’s ISI. Furthermore, he ruled that simply being funded by Pakistan is not defamatory.
Aftermath and Reactions
Permission to appeal was denied, and SFJ UK was ordered to cover Lord Ranger's legal costs. Nayaz Qazi, representing Ranger, expressed shock at the frivolous nature of the allegations. He mentioned that such claims were reportedly used against Ranger in the decision to revoke his CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) honor.
Key Takeaways
- The libel claim by SFJ UK was dismissed, but US-based SFJ’s claim against Ranger proceeds.
- Ranger's comments focused on alleged funding sources and credibility of SFJ’s accusations.
- UK court emphasized the distinction between SFJ's UK and US branches.
- The case highlights complex international political and community tensions surrounding Sikh activism.
