Another defeat for the Daily Mail: Nadia Sawalha and Mark Adderley win defamation case after false terrorism allegations

In yet another damaging legal defeat for the Daily Mail within days, actress and television presenter Nadia Sawalha and her husband, film producer and independent councillor Mark Adderley, won their defamation case against both the Daily Mail and the Metro.

The newspapers were forced to issue apologies, pay substantial damages, cover the couple’s legal costs, and undertake never to repeat the allegations after publishing false claims suggesting that Adderley supported terrorism and promoted antisemitic conspiracy theories.

The Daily Mail alleged that Adderley had praised the October 7 Hamas attacks and blamed Israel for subsequent antisemitic incidents, including attacks in Golders Green, London, and Bondi Beach, Australia. The Metro suggested that Sawalha fully supported and endorsed her husband’s alleged views.

In a video shared on Instagram, the couple described the allegations as “unforgivable,” saying they had placed them and their family in danger.

Both newspapers have now published full corrections and apologies, acknowledging the allegations were false. In near-identical statements, they said: “These allegations were false and we apologise to Mr Adderley and Ms Sawalha for the error and distress caused.”

Responding to their victory, Sawalha and Adderley said the case demonstrated not only the personal harm caused by the false claims but also the importance of challenging powerful media organisations when they publish defamatory reporting and how it’s vital to “push back against a legacy media that will go to any lengths to try and destroy lives and reputations with false allegations.”

Their solicitor, Zillur Rahman, said the case centred on deeply damaging allegations that wrongly equated criticism of Israel with support for terrorism.

“These were serious and damaging allegations which falsely suggested that our clients supported terrorism and promoted antisemitic conspiracy theories for simply calling out Israeli war crimes, and opposing Zionism.

“Our clients have consistently opposed racism in all its forms. We are pleased that both publishers have now accepted the falsity of these claims, issued public apologies, and agreed to pay substantial damages.”

The ruling marks the latest legal setback for Associated Newspapers, publisher of the Daily Mail. Just last week, green energy entrepreneur and Labour donor Dale Vince secured a landmark Court of Appeal victory after the newspaper wrongly used his photograph alongside a headline about a different Labour donor accused of sexual harassment.