Ennahdha's Ghannouchi sues Sky News Arabia over defamatory 'fake news'

Tunisia's Ennahdha party leader Rached Ghannouchi is taking legal action against Sky News Arabia, the Arabic-language franchise of the Murdoch-owned Sky News, over a report linking him to the assassination of leftwing political leader Chokri Belaid.

Aired on 9 June, the news report accused Ghannouchi of being actively and knowingly involved in the operations leading to the assassination of Belaid, who was gunned down outside his home in February 2013.

Belaid was a staunch critic of the then ruling Ennahdha party, a moderate Islamist movement.

His murder triggered deadly protests and a political crisis that brought down Islamist prime minister Hamadi Jebali.

Carter-Ruck, the legal firm representing the party leader, said in a press release that their client was "shocked" by the allegations, describing them as "utterly untrue and highly defamatory".

"There is absolutely no basis for suggesting that Mr. Ghannouchi in any way facilitated this murder or that he was in any way associated with the terrorist group that is reported by Sky News Arabia to have committed the murder," the press release read.

"Further, Mr. Ghannouchi was not asked for comment or given any opportunity of rebuttal by Sky News Arabia before these appalling allegations were broadcast."

The London-based firm added that Ghannouchi was forced to take legal action against the news channel, as there was no alternative way to "ensure that the record is set straight".

Ennahdha spokesperson Emad al-Khumairi told The New Arab that the party was a target of allegations by political parties and media outlets that propagate false information.

Mr. Ghannouchi was not asked for comment or given any opportunity of rebuttal by Sky News Arabia before these appalling allegations were broadcast. - Carter-Ruck

He added that Ghannouchi was dismayed because Ennahdha was being accused of involvement in assassinations and terrorist networks without any evidence or verified information.

Sky News Arabia has previously been accused of spreading false information and fake news.

Last month, the Abu Dhabi-based channel spreading false comments attributed to the Emir of Qatar, making no attempt to balance or verify its coverage in spite of a swift denial from Qatari authorities.

This was not the first time that Sky News Arabia has raised eyebrows, it regularly takes stances against democratic transition in the region, referring to the Arab Spring as the "so-called Arab Spring".