Summary of Events

On August 28, 2013 and August 29, 2013 the Toronto Sun and author Simon Kent published articles in the Toronto Sun Newspaper and www.torontosun.com with the captions “Brampton Muslim cleric preaches adulterers, gays can benefit from being stoned to death����� and ���Brampton sheikh’s stoning targets react” respectively; the articles were alleged to have roots in a sermon delivered by Sheikh Faisal Hamid Abdur Razak.

It is an unequivocal fact that during the entire length of the sermon, Sheikh Faisal did not mention anything about homosexuals or gays nor did he insinuate anything of this nature. Throughout the articles, Simon Kent recklessly, and/or intentionally, misquotes the sermon delivered by Sheikh Faisal and ultimately depicts him as a hatemonger, extremist and homophobe. Further still, he recklessly, and/or intentionally associates the sermon of Sheikh Faisal with the reputation of other entirely unrelated organizations such as ‘al-Qaida’ and ‘al-Shabaab’ as well as other unrelated videos found on the internet.

Based on the false pretense of the original article (August 28, 2013) the author then published another article on August 29, 2013 (www.torontosun.com) with the caption “Brampton sheikh’s stoning targets react”; in which the author continued to imply that Sheikh Faisal Hamid Abdur Razak had spoken about homosexuals and adulterers. This is followed by the author quoting reactions from members of the gay community as well as supporters of adultery; when in fact Sheikh Faisal Hamid Abdur Razak did not mention anything about homosexuals or gays or adulterers nor did he insinuate the same.

These are defamatory statements which are knowingly false and show a reckless disregard for the truth which has negatively impacted the reputation of Sheikh Faisal in the minds of right-thinking members of society.

Sheikh Faisal is pursuing a claim for damages against the Toronto Sun and Simon Kent for publishing such defamatory articles.

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