A UK High Court has delivered a judgment against YouTuber and former army officer Adil Farooq Raja in a defamation lawsuit filed by Brigadier (Retired) Rashid Naseer.
In the ruling, the court found that nine out of ten statements made by Raja on social media platforms — including YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), and Facebook — were “seriously defamatory” and not mere opinions. The statements in question accused Naseer of corruption, election manipulation, judicial interference, and misuse of authority.
The judge dismissed all of Raja’s applications to delay or halt the case, including his plea to stay proceedings, and refused his request to have certain witnesses testify anonymously or be excused. As a result, Raja was ordered to pay £5,000 to Naseer for the dismissed stay application and another £5,000 as an interim payment toward legal costs.
Raja participated in the hearing via video link, while Brigadier Naseer appeared in person. Witnesses for Raja included former officials and journalists, some of whom testified remotely from the United States.
Brigadier Naseer testified that Raja’s statements had serious personal consequences: threats and harassment against him and his family, disruptions to his children’s academic plans, and damage to his reputation. He also claimed that one individual arrested for an assassination attempt admitted to being influenced by Raja’s publications.
This decision marks a crucial stage in the ongoing legal battle, and the case is set to continue to a full trial to further examine the merits, evidence, and possible defences.
