Head of UK Middle East forum sued for libel by Tory party donor Mohamed Amersi

Mohamed Amersi says Charlotte Leslie tried to damage his reputation in memorandum

Mohamed Amersi has begun libel proceedings against a former Conservative MP. Facundo Arrizabalaga / EPA-EFE / Shutterstock

The head of an influential Middle East forum in Britain is being sued for libel by a millionaire Conservative Party donor.

Charlotte Leslie, a former Conservative MP, faces the court action by Mohamed Amersi, who claims that she tried to damage his reputation.

Mr Amersi, who has donated £1.2 million to the Conservative party, said a memorandum she compiled about him in her role as director of the Conservative Middle East Council contained statements that were false and defamatory.

Earlier this month, he dropped a data protection claim he had pursued against Ms Leslie. He said the aim of that action had been to “understand the extent and full nature of the false and defamatory statements which had been published about me”.

The case was also to “have the record set straight, to restore my good name, and to receive a full apology”.

The row stems from a memorandum written by Ms Leslie about Mr Amersi’s background, business dealings and family. It was sent to a handful of senior figures, including politicians, diplomats and national security figures.

She wrote it after Mr Amersi set up Conservative Friends of the Middle East and North Africa, regarded as a potential rival to CMEC.

Mr Amersi claims that during a dinner with Boris Johnson before he became prime minister, it was agreed that he should begin a new Conservative group to develop regional connections.

The businessman claimed Ms Leslie was attempting to undermine his attempt to set up Comena.

Ms Leslie passed her document to Ben Elliot, the Conservative Party chairman, in January last year. Mr Amersi became aware of it and said she was attempting to damage his reputation.

Ms Leslie has previously strongly denied the allegations and stated that she acted in the public interest.

However, Mr Amersi made a subject access data request demanding all documentation relating to him and then proceeded with a data protection claim in the belief Ms Leslie had not responded in full.

Mr Amersi, who has been linked to business deals with Russia and connections in Iran, said he had been left with no choice but to pursue “remedies through the court”.

“Like any citizen, I have a right to defend and restore my reputation when it has been attacked unfairly, and I look forward to the opportunity of having the evidence heard in full in court. I am confident that I will prevail,” he said.

Leading members of the British establishment have been dragged into the controversy. Prince Charles, who entertained Mr Amersi, was drawn into questions over party funding, along with former prime minister Theresa May.