Ifhat Smith – an apology

In an article on January 31 “Organised campaign to hobble anti-terror fight”, we made reference to Ifhat Smith, a mother who brought to public attention the questioning of her son at school under the government’s Prevent policy after he used the word “eco-terrorist” in a French lesson. We wish to make clear that Mrs Smith is not a member of or affiliated to the Muslim Brotherhood or an Islamic extremist and that in fact her complaint over her son’s treatment was brought in good faith. We apologise to Mrs Smith for any contrary impression and for the distress the article, and our editorial, caused her; we have agreed to pay her appropriate compensation accordingly.