The Press Complaints Commission has rejected claims that a JC column by Professor Geoffrey Alderman breached accuracy and discrimination rules.

His article about the segregation of men and women, published on October 29 2011, included the claim that "it is well known that Charedi men are notorious harassers of the opposite sex".

According to one complainant the reference could not be substantiated and was inaccurate. But the PCC found that because the column was written from Professor Alderman's perspective, it was clear to readers that the content reflected his views and experiences.

The PCC also cleared the JC over the claim that it was discriminatory to suggest that Charedim were "notorious for committing such acts".

"The article did not make a prejudicial or pejorative reference to the religion of a particular individual, but rather expressed the columnist's views on Charedi men in general," said Chris Paget, complaints officer.

"To come to an inevitably subjective judgment as to whether such material is tasteless or offensive would amount to the Commission acting as a moral arbiter, which can lead to censorship."