Defamation Judge Pushes Back On CNN's Use Of Sharia Law For Defense

Posted • September 3, 2024: In a public hearing exclusively recorded and streamed by NewsBusters, on Friday, CNN defended their use of Taliban Sharia law in the courtroom. CNN’s lead counsel Deanna Shullman (of Shullman Fugate PLLC) repeatedly argued that the network was correct to suggest Plaintiff and Navy veteran Zachary Young took part in an illegal “black market” because he was getting women out of Afghanistan “without permission of the Taliban;” an argument that got some push back from Judge Scott Henry. As NewsBusters previously reported, a major crux of the argument against CNN was that the term “black market” and how it played a huge role in the alleged defamation since it suggested that Young was a criminal who had taken part in illegal activity.

“Moreover, your Honor, the market was illegal,” Shullman declared. “CNN obviously does not condone the Taliban. It's ridiculous, but that was who was in charge at the time. And it's no dispute, your Honor, that they did not permit the evacuations.” According to CNN (and despite them admitting they didn’t find evidence of illegal activity), since Young was pointing out the definition of “black market,” they were now right to paint him that way because he didn’t get “permission” from the Taliban to get those women out. (…)

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https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/nicholas-fondacaro/2024/08/30/defamation-judge-pushes-back-cnns-use-sharia-law-defense