Imam to pay up over defamatory statements

(AAP) An imam who claimed a Melbourne man he had never met was an “ISIS promoter” has been ordered to pay $20,000 in aggravated damages.

Imam Mohammad Tawhidi made the claims on social media, where he has hundreds of thousands of followers.

His victim was Moustafa Awad, a migration agent known as Matt.

He was also sued for defamation in Victoria’s Supreme Court after trading barbs on his own social media.

The case against Mr Awad, brought by Mr Tawhidi, was rejected on Friday by Justice Andrew Keogh.

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