libel

Upon its publication in 1857, two years after the death of the author of “Jane Eyre,” Gaskell received angry letters, threats of libel lawsuits and outraged responses from Brontë’s father and her widower.

She was accused of spreading a modern-day blood libel, a term historically used to describe false and antisemitic accusations.

"Anyone who spreads blood libels against IDF troops is unfit to wear the army's uniform," he said.

Smart Shirts Ltd, a Hong Kong supplier of garments with customers in the UK, brought a claim for libel, alleging it had been defamed as its name was included.

The story of Hugh of Lincoln—one of the earliest “blood libels” against the Jews—crossed the Atlantic to appear in American ballads from New England to the Deep South.