Campaigner seeks £10m damages over Donald Trump’s claims

LONDON: A British Pakistani community activist has begun a legal battle over Donald Trump’s utterly false claim that parts of London are so radicalised that Metropolitan Police officers fear for their lives.

Kamran Malik, who is based in Newham in East London and runs a party called Communities United Party, has approached London High Court seeking £10 million damages against the would-be Republican candidate for the US presidency for allegedly defaming the Muslims living in the Green Street and Romford Road area of Forest Gate. These are the areas where large communities Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Indians and Sri Lankans live.

Kamran Malik, who lives in the area, argues that his "small community" has suffered the most damage and has been most deeply affected by Mr Trump's general remarks about the radicalisation of the Muslims in Britain.

Donald Trump said parts of London and Paris were so "radicalised" that police officers were scared. He added: "We have places in London and other places that are so radicalised that the police are afraid of their own lives. We have to be very smart and very vigilant."

Kamran Malik said Mr Trump's "careless or negligent comments" had, in his part of London, the potential "to affect the trust and confidence that (local Muslims) have built with their non-Muslim friends and business partners".

Kamran Malik stated in submissions, available with The News, to the court: "Due to this incident, the Muslims in the area have been having to make an extra special effort to live lives that are productive in order to eradicate the stereotype and prejudicial bias which has been caused by the remarks of the defendant."

Kamran Malik has now applied to a High Court master for permission to serve papers on Mr Trump "out of the jurisdiction" at 725 Fifth Avenue, New York - Trump Tower.

Master McCloud adjourned the application until February 19 to give Kamran Malik, who is a Muslim and British national, time to amend the details of his claim so that it conforms to court rules.

The master also told Mr Malik to give Mr Trump notice by sending him a copy of his claim form, with supporting evidence, "to give Mr Trump an opportunity to make submissions if he wishes".

Mr Trump will have 28 days to respond and "set out such legal arguments as he wishes to make", said the master.

Speaking to The News, Kamran Malik said he was pursuing Donald Trump because the Muslims have come under attack in the UK and elsewhere after Trump’s “dangerous and libellous remarks”. He told The News: “Donald Trump has lied about the Muslims and his lies had real effects on the Muslims. They have become victims of his hate-mongering and I am out to make sure that this dangerous man is stopped and brought to justice.”