Supreme Court throws out Al Jazeera case

The supreme court has rejected a request by international broadcaster Al Jazeera to file for prerogative writs cancelling three injunctions secured by former House president Demetris Syllouris banning airing of a damning undercover video of himself and Cypriot MP and prohibiting a lower court from adjudicating on the matter.

Essentially, the court rejected the motions arguing that the plaintiff had not exhausted other domestic remedies before seeking recourse at the highest court.

Earlier this month, Syllouris filed a lawsuit against Al Jazeera, claiming violation of his personal data and defamation.

He also sought an injunction to prevent the airing of material that concerns him. The reason was that a damning Al Jazeera video was a candidate for a BAFTA award in the current affairs category.

The undercover video showed Syllouris and former Akel MP Christakis Giovanis offering help to a fictitious Chinese businessman with a criminal record to secure citizenship through the island’s citizenship for investment programme.

The supreme court rejected the broadcaster’s arguments that their case ought to be included in the exemptions that are allowed by the supreme court and should be taken up by a lower court.