Qasim Akhtar Wins Substantial Libel Damages From The Sun Publisher NGN

Qasim Akhtar, best known for playing Zeedan Nazir in Coronation Street, has won substantial libel damages from News Group Newspapers, the publisher of The Sun, after the paper falsely linked him to Islamic extremism.

What The Sun Published

In November 2025, The Sun published a story in print and online that falsely claimed Akhtar had backed and teamed up with Islamic cleric Uthman ibn Farooq. The newspaper alleged he had links to Islamic extremism. The article also wrongly stated that he had moved to Pakistan and undertaken firearms training, according to RTE. 5Pillars RTÉ

Why Akhtar Took Legal Action

Akhtar strongly denied the claims and said they caused serious damage to his life. In March 2026, he instructed law firm Taylor Hampton and began High Court proceedings against News Group Newspapers for libel and defamation, as reported by 5Pillars. 5Pillars

The Impact On Akhtar’s Life

Akhtar’s lawyer, Daniel Taylor, told the court that the publisher accepted the article caused serious harm to Akhtar’s reputation and great distress. Taylor added that the false claims affected the actor’s family life and business, forcing him to put work on hold while the matter was resolved, according to RTE. Speaking on Instagram in June, Akhtar said the previous six months had been very tough, and that the allegations deeply affected his reputation, family, safety, and peace of mind, based on reporting from Yahoo News. Sun publisher to pay damages to Coronation Street actor +2

How The Sun Responded

Earlier this year, The Sun issued a public apology accepting that the allegations were completely false. The newspaper stated that Akhtar had never endorsed or supported extremist views and strongly condemned all forms of extremism and violence. It also confirmed he had never moved to Pakistan or undertaken firearms training, according to 5Pillars. 5Pillars

What NGN Agreed To In Court

Appearing in the High Court in London, NGN’s representative Andrew Wheelhouse told the court that the publisher accepted the article should never have been published and had undertaken never to repeat the allegations. Taylor also told the court that the libel was made worse because NGN failed to seek Akhtar’s response to the allegations before publishing the story, as reported by RTE. RTÉ RTÉ

Settlement Terms

As part of the settlement, NGN agreed to pay Akhtar substantial damages along with his full legal costs. The exact financial figure has not been made public. Akhtar did not attend the final court hearing, according to Press Gazette.

Detail	Information
Claimant	Qasim Akhtar
Defendant	News Group Newspapers (NGN)
Publication	The Sun
False story published	November 2025
Legal action filed	March 2026
Public apology issued	May/June 2026
Outcome	Substantial damages plus legal costs

FAQ: Qasim Akhtar Wins Substantial Libel Damages From The Sun Publisher NGN

Q. Who is Qasim Akhtar?

Qasim Akhtar is a former Coronation Street actor who played Chesney Karib in the Channel 4 comedy-drama Shameless and Zeedan Nazir in Coronation Street, appearing in the ITV soap from 2014 to 2018 and then 2021 to 2023.

Q. What did The Sun falsely claim about him?

The Sun falsely alleged Akhtar had “backed” and “teamed up with” Islamic cleric Uthman ibn Farooq, was associated with extremism, radicalisation and violence, and had “moved to Pakistan” and “trained with guns.”

Q. When was the false story published?

The article was published in print and online in November last year, referring to November 2025.

Q. Why did Akhtar sue The Sun?

Following the controversy and false claims published by The Sun, Akhtar instructed the media and entertainment law firm Taylor Hampton in March 2026 to issue High Court proceedings against News Group Newspapers, the publishers of The Sun, for libel and defamation.

Q. Did The Sun admit the story was false?

Yes. In its apology published in May, The Sun said it accepted that the allegations in the article were “entirely false,” stating that Mr Akhtar has never endorsed or supported any such views and strongly condemns all forms of extremism and violence.

Q. What did the court settlement include?

Appearing before the High Court in London, Akhtar’s lawyer Daniel Taylor said NGN had agreed to pay the actor “substantial damages” as well as his legal costs. The Sun also agreed to join Qasim in a statement in open court, for which the High Court granted permission.

Q. Did NGN acknowledge wrongdoing beyond the false claims?

Taylor told the court the publisher had accepted the article caused serious harm to Akhtar’s reputation and “great distress,” adding that the false allegations had affected the actor’s family life and business, forcing him to put work on hold while the matter was resolved. He also said the libel was compounded by the publisher’s failure to seek Akhtar’s response before publication.

Q. How did The Sun’s publisher respond in court?

Representing NGN, Andrew Wheelhouse told the court the publisher accepted the article “should never have been published” and had undertaken never to repeat the allegations.

Q. How has Akhtar responded to the settlement?

In an Instagram post in June, Akhtar said the previous six months had been “very tough to say the least” and that the allegations in the article “deeply affected me, my reputation, my family, my safety and my peace of mind.”