Former Coronation Street star Qasim Akhtar has publicly addressed the false accusations of extremism and radicalisation made against him by The Sun, saying 'justice has been served publicly' after the newspaper issued a formal apology and agreed to pay damages.
False Allegations and Their Impact
Akhtar, 35, played Zeedan Nazir on the ITV soap from 2014 to 2018 and again from 2021 to 2023. In November 2025, The Sun published an article claiming he had 'backed' and 'teamed up' with Islamic cleric Uthman ibn Farooq, and that he had 'moved to Pakistan' and 'trained with guns'. The accusations caused significant distress to the actor and his family.
In an Instagram post, Akhtar described the last six months as 'very tough to say the least'. He said the false allegations 'deeply affected me, my reputation, my family, my safety and my peace of mind'. He emphasised that he has always tried to represent his religion with 'good character, humility and sincerity' and has 'never intentionally said or done anything concerning, worrying or harmful'.
Apology and Damages
The Sun published an apology stating: 'Mr Akhtar has never endorsed or supported any such views and strongly condemns all forms of extremism and violence. He has never been involved in or associated with radicalisation nor has he, as further falsely claimed, moved to Pakistan and undertaken firearms training.' The newspaper also agreed to pay Akhtar an undisclosed sum in damages and apologised 'unreservedly for the serious harm and distress caused to him by the publication of these false allegations'.
Akhtar responded with forgiveness, saying: 'To The Sun, I have no malice in my heart towards you, or the journalist involved in writing the article. Forgiveness is a staple in my religion. Islam teaches that forgiveness will take you so much further than harbouring hate and anger towards those who have wronged you.'
Broader Context
The actor's case highlights the serious consequences of false reporting, particularly regarding terrorism-related accusations. Akhtar's public statement and The Sun's retraction serve as a reminder of the importance of verifying information before publication. The actor concluded his message by thanking supporters and expressing relief that his name has been cleared.
