TalkTV pays substantial damages to migrant charity over 'facilitating terrorism' claim

Broadcaster TalkTV has apologised and agreed to pay substantial damages to a migrant charity over claims it “facilitated terrorism”.

Presenter Mike Graham made defamatory claims about Migrants Organise on two episodes of The Independent Republic of Mike Graham, that aired on 10 and 13 June 2022.

Graham claimed that the charity, which receives funding from organisations including the Greater London Authority and the Joseph Rowntree Trust, were “human traffickers” and “funded to help illegal immigration”.

There were also remarks that claimed Migrants Organise “facilitated fraud and terrorism by advising asylum seekers to falsify information to bolster their asylum claims”.

The charity’s chief executive, Zrinka Bralo, said that they were “exposed to hate and threats of violence” after the clips were aired and shared on Twitter.

TalkTV has now apologised and paid damages after Migrants Organise said the comments were defamatory.

In a statement posted to their Twitter page, TalkTV wrote: “We are happy to clarify that it was not our or Mike's intention to make those allegations and we accept there wasn't a factual basis for doing so.

“There were criticisms of Migrants Organise in the show and we should have offered the charity the opportunity to come on and respond.

“We apologise for not doing that and have agreed to pay them damages and legal costs.”

Responding to the apology, Bralo said: “This victory is for the people behind these headlines, people who have no voice or representation, people who are scapegoated, demonised and dehumanised.”

She said the damages will be use to “further support our vital work in supporting migrants and refugees to rebuild their lives”.

Migrants Organise says on its website that it campaigns for “an inclusive and welcoming society with a fair immigration system” and provides advocacy and casework support to people who arrive in the UK.

Last year TalkTV apologised to mental health charity Mind after Graham claimed that money they had provided to Migrants Organise could have been spent on paying migrants’ legal fees.

Mind hit out at the “plain wrong” allegation, insisting their donation was for “specific work to help mental health”.