Former Coronation Street actor Qasim Akhtar has publicly addressed the emotional toll of being falsely accused of extremism and radicalisation, after the publication that made the allegations issued a formal apology and agreed to pay damages.
False allegations published last year
Akhtar, who played Zeedan Nazir on the ITV soap from 2014 to 2018 and again from 2021 to 2023, was accused by The Sun of having 'backed' and 'teamed up' with Islamic cleric Uthman ibn Farooq. The newspaper also claimed the 35-year-old Manchester-born actor had 'moved to Pakistan' and 'trained with guns'.
The allegations were published in November 2025, shortly after Akhtar returned from performing Umrah pilgrimage. In an Instagram post, he described the last six months as 'very tough to say the least', adding that the false claims 'deeply affected me, my reputation, my family, my safety and my peace of mind'.
The Sun's apology and damages
In its apology, The Sun stated: '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 publication also said it had agreed to pay Akhtar a sum in damages and 'apologise unreservedly for the serious harm and distress caused to him by the publication of these false allegations'.
Akhtar responded by saying 'justice has been served publicly and I'm thankful that the truth has been acknowledged and my name has been cleared'. He added that he has always tried to represent his religion 'with good character, humility and sincerity', and that he has 'never intentionally said or done anything concerning, worrying or harmful'.
Actor's message of forgiveness
Addressing The Sun and the journalist involved, Akhtar said: 'I have no malice in my heart towards you... 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, and that ultimately God is in control of everything. On that basis, I forgive you and I thank you for being complicit, admitting your faults and dealing with this in a moral and ethical manner.'
He also expressed gratitude to his family and supporters, saying: 'To my family and my brothers who checked in on me, supported me and made dua for me through this difficult period, Jazak Allah khair, I love you for the sake of Allah.'
Impact on the actor's life
Akhtar acknowledged that if he had 'for any reason made anybody feel uncomfortable through the expression of my religion, I'm sorry, please forgive me'. He stressed that his 'true intention has only ever been to show the real beauty, peace and values of Islam, the things I myself spent a large portion of my life being blind and ignorant towards'.
The false accusations came at a time when Akhtar had already stepped away from his role on Coronation Street in 2023. The ordeal has now concluded with a public vindication and a settlement, allowing the actor to move forward with his career and personal life.
