Canadian YouTuber Nermine Adel Khalil, formerly an Egyptian national, faces a hefty penalty of $175,000 ordered by the Nova Scotia Supreme Court. The court found her guilty of making defamatory statements about an Egyptian civil servant, Nashwa Abdelhamid Mohamed Abdelkader.

Khalil’s YouTube videos are known for sharing explicit and obviously fake stories about Egyptian government officials and individuals. Despite lacking any evidence or personal background to support her claims, she has gained a massive following, especially among Muslim Brotherhood members.

Refusing to accept the court’s ruling, Khalil insists on not paying the fine or stopping her malicious comments. The court highlighted the outrageous and threatening nature of her statements, as well as her failure to apologize or retract them even after the lawsuit was filed.

Abdelkader, a senior figure in the Egyptian civil service, stated that she never met Khalil and expressed concerns about her job and safety, particularly as an unmarried woman in a conservative society.

To compensate for the harm caused, the court awarded Abdelkader $100,000 in general damages, $50,000 in aggravated damages, and $25,000 in punitive damages. The court recognized Khalil’s actions as malicious, oppressive, and high-handed.

Additionally, a permanent injunction was issued to prevent Khalil from making further defamatory comments about Abdelkader, despite the likelihood of her continuing her defamation campaign. The court asserted jurisdiction over the case due to Khalil’s residence in Halifax, where she made defamatory statements.

Khalil represented herself during the proceedings and plans to appeal the court’s decision. As of now, Abdelkader’s lawyers have not issued any comments on the matter.