Saudi billionaire Al Amoudi sues Ethiopia editor Elias Kifle
by Metasebia » Sun Jan 16, 2011 1:54 pm
Ethiopian born tycoon Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Ali Al Amoudi has sued editor and publisher of the Ethiopian Review(ER) for libel in the United Kingdom High court. Publisher of ER Mr Elias Kifle has acknowledged that he has been served with the court papers.
The papers charge the defendant “has gravely injured the reputation of the Claimant, has exposed him to public scandal, contempt and odium and has caused him considerable embarrassment and distress”.
The charges emanate from the story that appeared in several media outlets about a young girl who claims to be daughter of Al Amoudi. The 65 year old businessman denies he is the father. It is not yet clear why ER is sued while the story circulated in a number of British media.
Sheikh Mohammed Al Amoudi, whose net worth is estimated to be $10 bln, is father of 8 children. The tycoon holds an Honorary Doctorate in Philosophy from the Addis Ababa University.
ER is one of the most popular websites that gets an average of 15,000 hits a day. The website has stirred controversy in 2008 when it named Eritrean President Isaias Afeworki man of the year. ER has also been a supporter of Ethiopian Peoples Patriotic Front (EPPF) which wants to unseat the Addis Ababa government by force.
A number of foreign based websites have shown solidarity to Mr Elias. They took the charge as an attempt to silence the media. They are also raising funds for the legal proceeding that is expected to take place in the United Kingdom.
This is not the first time that the Virginia based website has been legally challenged. Last November a member of the Ethiopian Sports Federation in North America (ESFNA) leadership, Mr Eyaya Arega -through his lawyer- has also demanded retraction of an article that was critical to him.
Mr Elias Kifle has been charged in absentia by the Ethiopian government for genocide and treason. He has been sentenced for life in prison in 2006.
(Source: http://abesmedia.com)
The papers charge the defendant “has gravely injured the reputation of the Claimant, has exposed him to public scandal, contempt and odium and has caused him considerable embarrassment and distress”.
The charges emanate from the story that appeared in several media outlets about a young girl who claims to be daughter of Al Amoudi. The 65 year old businessman denies he is the father. It is not yet clear why ER is sued while the story circulated in a number of British media.
Sheikh Mohammed Al Amoudi, whose net worth is estimated to be $10 bln, is father of 8 children. The tycoon holds an Honorary Doctorate in Philosophy from the Addis Ababa University.
ER is one of the most popular websites that gets an average of 15,000 hits a day. The website has stirred controversy in 2008 when it named Eritrean President Isaias Afeworki man of the year. ER has also been a supporter of Ethiopian Peoples Patriotic Front (EPPF) which wants to unseat the Addis Ababa government by force.
A number of foreign based websites have shown solidarity to Mr Elias. They took the charge as an attempt to silence the media. They are also raising funds for the legal proceeding that is expected to take place in the United Kingdom.
This is not the first time that the Virginia based website has been legally challenged. Last November a member of the Ethiopian Sports Federation in North America (ESFNA) leadership, Mr Eyaya Arega -through his lawyer- has also demanded retraction of an article that was critical to him.
Mr Elias Kifle has been charged in absentia by the Ethiopian government for genocide and treason. He has been sentenced for life in prison in 2006.
(Source: http://abesmedia.com)
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