UPDATE 07/09 12:00 The Craig Murray defence fund has just sailed serenely past £50,000 in electronic donations in almost precisely 24 hours, even before any of the cheques have arrived. It is a perfect illustration of the grossly disproportionate threat to freedom of speech that is the English libel system, that this is not sufficient and we have to persevere with the appeal.
2,080 people have donated an average of £24. The largest single donation is £4,000. There are also hundreds of £3 and £5 donations which do really add up. I am absolutely stunned by the outpouring of kindness I have experienced – though in fairness I should mention the significant minority who say they are motivated by despisal of the Daily Mail.
ORIGINAL POST
I am being sued for libel in the High Court in England by Jake Wallis Simons, Associate Editor of the Daily Mail Online. Mr Wallis Simons is demanding £40,000 in damages and the High Court has approved over £100,000 in costs for Mark Lewis, Mr Wallis Simons’ lawyer. I may become liable for all of this should I lose the case, and furthermore I have no money to pay for my defence. I am currently a defendant in person. This case has the potential to bankrupt me and blight the lives of my wife and children. I have specifically been threatened by Mr Lewis with bankruptcy.
Mr Wallis Simons boasts on his website:
In 2015, I published a series of articles exposing Jeremy Corbyn’s links with anti-Semitic figures, and this led to what is now known as the “Labour anti-Semitism scandal.”
It was my Sky TV appearance on this subject which led to this libel action against me.
It is my view that English libel law remains an international disgrace, a device by which the wealthy and those with wealthy backers, and only they, can stifle freedom of speech. Contempt of Court laws – with a penalty of two years imprisonment – even prevent poor defendants like me from putting their case openly before the public in order to appeal for a public defence fund. I am extremely limited in what I can tell you.
How can it cost just one party six times the average annual national wage to litigate a five minute TV broadcast? The libel system, with its in-built advantage to the wealthy and those backed by the wealthy, is a complete disgrace. Andy Wightman, the brilliant Scottish land reform campaigner, has been going through the same Hell.
I find I am obliged to beg you for funds to help me defend the case. I need to ask every single person who reads this blog to find it in their heart to make at least some contribution, as much as you can afford. The scale of this thing is such that I need to ask those of you who are comfortably off to make a far larger donation than you might normally consider. In practice we are going to need to include some four figure donations to make the ludicrous amounts required. But every single penny mounts up and please do give something.
If you have ever enjoyed this blog – join the fight. If you dislike this blog but support freedom of speech – join the fight. If you support the right to defend Palestine without being labelled ant-Semitic – join the fight. If you despised the anti-Corbyn media campaign – join the fight. If the Daily Mail sickens you – join the fight.
Every donation, no matter how small, will be gratefully received. The case will be heard in the High Court on 7 November. In the event of victory, after costs are met (even a costs award does not cover all actual costs) excess donations will be returned pro-rata unless you specify they should be applied to the future of maintaining the blog.
This is a question not only of the continued existence of this blog, but of the future well-being of my young family. It is unfair on you for me to place all of that in your hands, but that is the situation into which I am forced.
UPDATE 06/09 20:00 In just 8 hours we have received £21,790 in donations to the fighting fund. This is a fantastic start. 836 individuals have donated, making the average donation £26. The largest donation received is £1,000 and the smallest are £3. I am incredibly humbled and grateful that we are starting to have a chance. There have been so many kind messages, of which “you cast a lot of bread upon the waters helping others, Craig” made me greet for a bit. I have particularly enjoyed those from people who declare they agree with almost nothing I say but support free speech! About 60% of donations are from Scotland, but so far we have 22 different countries.
I really cannot express my gratitude enough.
On a practical point, a number of people have said they are not members of Paypal so could not donate. After clicking on “Donate”, just below and left of the “Log In” button is a small “continue” link which enables you to pay by card without logging in. For those who prefer not to pay online, you can send a cheque made out to me to Craig Murray, 89/14 Holyrood Road, Edinburgh, EH8 8BA. As regular readers know, it is a matter of pride to me that I never hide my address. A surprising number of people have asked for a Bitcoin option and we are working on it.
I found this interview by the lawyer who is suing me to be particularly interesting. I may say no more than that without danger of contempt of court.
Paypal putting up security challenge at every stage. ie. x3.
Just tried to send you a few quid but was balled over by Pay pal rigmarole as I usually don’t use it. Visa debit does not seem to be liked.
Would like tol send you a cheque in the post to ??????
Good luck
Donated.
I don’t agree with everyhting you write by any means, but your position on freedom of speech, especially with regards to Zionism and Israel is second to none. I hope that you get a decent judge.
Would a Go Fund Me work better? will donate this week, this is too important to lose
Your work is outstanding, Craig. Chucked you £15 from all the way over here in the colonies (New Zealand). Chin up, make sure you keep getting good sleep and good exercise. Don’t let the bastards grind you down.
Craig
£50 in. Keep up your invaluable work. Can we crowd fund this more formally, is there scope for that? I run a corporate investigation business if you and your legal team need a hand with anything pro bono give me a holler. My email is appended to the donation I just made.
I’ve made a small donation (sadly I can’t afford more at the moment) but didn’t see an option to specify unused funds can be used to maintain the blog
Craig.
I can’t think of anyone more capable to defend yourself, than you yourself. Having watched your 7 videos when the Establishment were trying to stitch you up.
I had a very bad experience with Paypal some ago, therefore, I will not be using Paypal. Anyway, so much money is lost paying Paypal’s fees.
You will be okay.
I will contact you directly with what I know, to protect your family.
Easy for me to say, “don’t worry”. Have your day in Court, and give them HELL. You can do it.
We YESSERS are behind you, all the way.
Oh, I love a good cause.
Robert.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/uks-foremost-libel-lawyer-sets-his-sights-on-israels-enemies
you may find this of some interest?
Please set up a go fund me / crowd fund page
done
We have to defend independent voices against a ‘bought’ establishment. As well as donating we need to spread the word, like this:
https://www.facebook.com/john.gossip/posts/10156497460712646
and by any means possible.
I think I can detect similar intrigues at work here that forced the west into so many unnecessary middle-eastern wars. Subjects that cannot even be broached on the main thread of this blog. Hope everybody understands what I mean by this.
Good luck, Craig.
I live on a less than full pension due to being self employed and not always paying contibutions ( my own fault ). However I can spare a tenner, good luck and keep up the good fight.
Maybe you can apply for something called Pension Credits. Don’t know how it works but guidance is here: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/money-matters/claiming-benefits/pension-credit/
I can’t help but think this should be brought to a bigger platform. I know this blog gets plenty of traffic, but groups that support the work of academics like Norman Finkelstein and Noam Chomsky should surely know, too.
Craig
I have some experienec of libel actions, bringing them and some success too against Aaronovitch. If you email me on [email protected] I may be able to give some advice. I have a law degree and Diploma of Law though I wasnt a solicitor but I may be able to help in terms of telling u where to obtain legal advice from qualified professionals
tony
Well said Tony, I’m skint but is anyone needs any clerical work doing, I’m game.
Sent a small donation . Will send more next payday. Good luck
Done. Good luck with the court case and give them hell.
Contact George Galloway for advice! He has been quite successful in the courts with scallywags…
And Michael Mansfield. This needs to a high-profile cause celebre.
MJ,
Could not agree more.
Usually when the spotlight shines on the ones who want to sustain the status quo and quiet whistle-blowers the tide changes against then when the full effect of public scrutiny impacts.
Not the time or place for me just now to say that I have more than passing acquaintance with this kind of pressure.
Murray needs national and international attention/scrutiny – intense scrutiny on this one.
Simple – others can say things he himself can’t – because of the sub judice rule.
Here is an anonymous Guardian article that you should take a look at:
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/sep/23/jewish-orthodox
Defence by the many against the few
Yours is a worthy cause, dear Craig, so I donated what I can and wish you all the best winning this challenge!
Shared and donated. Good luck Craig!
This is a major thing – the Establishment is trying to silence you. No doubt they’ll put in a judge who’s been ‘briefed’
I sincerely hope you are victorious.I admire your work. Can’t give much but hopefully many others like me will give what they can. All good wishes, Steve Letford
If you find enough money to get a solicitor, be very, very careful. Many of them are in cahoots with the Establishment and will lead you into the fire
Maybe if you hadn’t produced so many lies about the people being murdered by Bashar al-Assad I’d have some sympathy.
[https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2016/09/barrel-bomb-conundrum/]
The main substantive point Craig makes in that piece is that conventional bombs are far more deadly and destructive than barrel bombs. Hardly a lie.
The Haganah used barrel bombs during the Nakba.
Why does no one ever mention that, I wonder?
It seems it is OK for zionists to deploy barrel bombs as weapons of terror against innocent Palestinians but not for legitimate Syrian forces to defend themselves against Western-backed international terrorists.
The hypocrisy of the West – as ever – is totally stunning!
I will try to make a donation.
Done it.
Some posters have reservations about using PayPal. Please note you don’t need to have a PayPal account to donate – you can use your credit or debit card instead. Don’t click on “log in to PayPal”, click on “continue” at the bottom of the page.
Regards the fees PayPal charge for processing the donation, they are actually cheaper than most other options. Their percentage fee is slightly higher but they don’t require the vendor (Craig) to pay exorbitant fees for a merchant account and a credit card processing machine.
I wish that I could afford more. There is a fundamental principal at stake here. We must not be bullied by the rich and powerful and especially not by odious publications which lie to us everyday. I have Jewish friends who are appalled at actions taken by Israel.
Help out here folks.
Here’s a few bob Craig. Hope you get some practical pro bono support from bright legal bods who frequent this place. Good luck – we’ll all be rooting for you .x