Coronation Street star Qasim Akhtar responds after false terrorism accusations
A Coronation Street star has responded after being falsely accused of being associated with extremism and radicalisation.
Qasim Akhtar played Zeedan Nazir on the long-running ITV soap between 2014 and 2018, before staging a comeback in 2021 until 2023.
However, last year the 35-year-old was accused by The Sun of having ‘backed’ and ‘teamed up’ with Uthman ibn Farooq, an Islamic cleric.
It was additionally claimed that the Manchester-born actor had ‘moved to Pakistan’ and ‘trained with guns’.
Now, following a formal apology by the publication that states ‘these allegations were entirely false and should never have been published’, Akhtar has said that ‘justice has been served publicly and I’m thankful that the truth has been acknowledged and my name has been cleared’.
Posting on Instagram, Akhtar began by writing: ‘The last 6 months of my life have been very tough to say the least.
‘Some of you may or may not be aware that in November of last year upon returning from performing my Umrah (pilgrimage), an article was published about me with false allegations that deeply affected me, my reputation, my family, my safety and my peace of mind.’
The former Coronation Street star said that he has always tried to represent his religion with good character, humility and sincerity, adding: ‘I have never intentionally said or done anything concerning, worrying or harmful.’
He claimed that if he has for any reason made anybody feel uncomfortable through the expression of my religion, ‘I’m sorry, please forgive me’.
‘My 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, he continued.
‘Justice has been served publicly and I’m thankful that the truth has been acknowledged and my name has been cleared.
‘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.
‘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, 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.’
In The Sun’s apology, the publication 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 Sun also said that it has agreed to pay Akhtar a sum in damages, before adding: ‘[We] apologise unreservedly for the serious harm and distress caused to him by the publication of these false allegations.’