Resolution Statement – 18597-17 Stand Against Racism &
Inequality v mirror.co.uk
Summary of complaint
1. Stand Against Racism & Inequality, on behalf of Kamaran Ahmad Ali and family, complained to the Independent Press Standards Organisation that mirror.co.uk breached Clause 2 (Privacy) and Clause 4 (Intrusion into grief or shock) of the Editors’ Code of Practice in an article headlined “Man charged with murder after neighbour found dead ‘with his penis chopped off’”, published on 8 September 2017.
2. The article was a
report of the pre-trial proceedings of an individual, charged with the murder
of a member of Mr Ali’s family. The article included details of the deceased’s
injuries, and claimed that these details had been heard during the court
proceedings.
3.
The complainant said that these
details had not been mentioned in court. It said that the family had not been
aware of these details prior to the publication of the article, and that the
inclusion had intruded into the family’s private life, and into their grief.
The complainant expressed particular concern that publication had not been
handled sensitively and noted the distress that the publication of the article
had caused the family.
4. The publication did not accept
that there had been a breach of the Code. It said that the details had been
referred to at a Magistrate’s court hearing, and that this information was
given to it by a reliable contact at the court. The newspaper said that it had
a right and duty to report on these details, as they were heard in open court
and because it concerned matters of public interest. As a gesture of goodwill,
the publication amended the online article and added a footnote to it, to make
clear that such details were not heard at a Crown Court hearing.
Relevant Code Provisions
5. Clause 2
(Privacy
i) Everyone is
entitled to respect for his or her private and family life, home, health and
correspondence, including digital communications.
ii) Editors will be
expected to justify intrusions into any individual's private life without
consent. Account will be taken of the complainant's own public disclosures of
information.
iii) It is unacceptable to photograph individuals, without their consent, in public or private places where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy.
Clause 4 (Intrusion into grief or shock)
In cases involving personal grief
or shock, enquiries and approaches must be made with sympathy and discretion
and publication handled sensitively. These provisions should not restrict the
right to report legal proceedings.
Mediated Outcome
6. The complaint was not resolved through direct correspondence between the parties. IPSO therefore began an investigation into the matter.
7. During the investigative process, the newspaper offered to write a private letter of apology to the family.
8. The complainant said that this would resolve the matter
to the satisfaction of Mr Ali and his family.
9. As the complaint was successfully mediated, the Complaints Committee
did not make a determination as to whether there had been any breach of the
Code.
Date complaint received: 21/09/2017
Date complaint concluded by IPSO: 07/12/2017