A seven-year battle for control of an Oxford mosque has ended in the High Court.

Medina Mosque, in Stanley Road, east Oxford, will be run by the London Markaz -- a major Islamic centre.

The decision was made by Deputy Judge Anthony Elleray QC, and has been welcomed by the mosque's co-founder, Mohammed Aslam Khan, who has invested more than £100,000 of his own money in the case.

Mr Khan said he was happy with the result, despite being banned by the court from becoming a trustee or member of the mosque's management committee.

The court ruling follows ongoing disputes between rival factions of the same Muslim sect, which came to a head in July 2004 when police were called after a row between Mr Khan and other worshippers during afternoon prayer.

Mr Khan said: "This case has been a seven-year struggle which cost me over £100,000 and the mosque over £200,000. At the end of the day I have won the case.

"The judge asked me to step down from the mosque for the sake of the Muslim community.

"The court order says I am banned from being on the committee, but it is not banning me because I have done anything bad.

"London Markaz will be the main body running the mosque with the help of local people, and that's what I was aiming for 20 years ago."

In a statement, Mr Khan said that since the High Court order was made in February, the mosque was under new management and was running fine.

Niaz Mohammed, who stood against Mr Khan in the court case, declined to comment, other than to say: "The court has made its decision and we are happy with the outcome."

Mr Khan set up the mosque in 1984, and was chairman until 1998. The court order bans either side of the case from standing as trustees or committee members at the mosque.