A progressive Muslim leader from Oxford has won a legal battle against a Muslim newspaper after it alleged he was part of a heretical sect.

Dr Taj Hargey, chairman of the Muslim Education Centre for Oxford, won a five-figure sum in damages from Muslim Weekly after suing the paper for libel following the publication of an article in 2006 which claimed he was a Qadiani, a sect not accepted by mainstream Muslims, and had been dismissed from a post at the University of Cape Town.

An apology was read out in the High Court today from editor-in-chief Ahmed Malik and a retraction will be published in the paper, which has a circulation of 40,000 to 50,000.

Dr Hargey said: “This is a catastrophic defeat for religious fundamentalism and a decisive victory for religious freedom.”

He said he believed ultra-orthodox Muslims were not able to deal with the theological issues he raised, in matters such as women’s religious dress and allowing women to lead prayers in a mixed congregation, and so “cast dirt”.

In the statement read by Mr Ahmed he said: “The defendants accept that these allegations are false and should never have been published.”