Was It Right To Publish This Man's Name If He Was Deemed Innocent?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-40654217

Described as a "prominent figure in the Oxford Area" Mr Khuja had been arrested in March 2012 after one of the complainants told police she had been abused by a man with his first name. She failed to pick him out at an identity parade and he was released.

[jno]

they said they were keeping his case under review, so perhaps they still think there was fire behind the smoke. Other than that, arrests are usually anonymous - reports say "a man has been arrested" then "the man who was arrested has been released without charge." It's hard to see why that isn't the case here.

[EDDIE51]

It has been stressed that he is innocent so to me it is just clearing up the situation. If he had not been named the gossip would have been a lot worse.

[dannyk13]

Agree with Eddie (for a change)

[anotheoldgit]

/// If he had not been named the gossip would have been a lot
worse. ///

Only amongst those who knew that he was involved in the case.

Now he has been named, just imagine what he and his family will have to endure now?

[dannyk13]

I think that he was named along with the other suspects, so to announce that he was innocent is a good thing.

[jno]

was he, danny? If so that might make sense. But I'm not sure that having a note stuck on your back saying "Not a child groomer" will be much comfort to him. I don't think I'd much like to see a headline saying "jno cleared of child sexual abuse" even if it was true.

[EDDIE51]

AOG I am sure his name was already so well known in his local area this will squash the rumours rather than make them worse ! In fact the exact opposite of what you think!

[dannyk13]

If I remember correctly all the men were named when appearing at court.

[jno]

it just strikes me as odd - newspapers spending a lot of money pursuing the right to name an innocent man.

[dannyk13]

//Tariq Khuja attempted to use privacy laws to stop press and media reports after he was named at the high profile 2013 trial of nine men from Oxford//
It looks like at the time he was named he had not been declared innocent.

[andy-hughes]

I cannot think that naming anyone before they are convicted is an abuse of personal freedom, under the concept enshrined in law that an individual is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

[douglas9401]

"I cannot think that naming anyone before they are convicted is an abuse of personal freedom, under the concept enshrined in law that an individual is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law."

Possibly, if the same conditions applied to a 'prominent figure in the Oxford area' are granted to those arrested for rape, only to be found completely innocent but left swinging in the breeze when the circus moves on.

[ludwig]

A witness says they were abused by someone called Tariq, so they go and arrest someone called Tariq.

It turns out to be a different Tariq.

Never mind, on to the next case/story. Meanwhile the man is now forever associated with child abuse.