Archbishop of Canterbury withdraws award from Muslim cleric after past Osama bin Laden praise surfaces
Arches Office Reverses Interfaith Award After Past Praise of Osama bin Laden Emerges
LAMBETH PALACE, London — In a move that has raised eyebrows in both religious and diplomatic circles, the Archbishop of Canterbury’s office announced on Thursday that it is withdrawing the Hubert Walter Award for Reconciliation and Interfaith Cooperation that was given last Friday to the Pakistani Muslim cleric Maulana Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi.
The award, presented during a ceremony that marked the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, had originally recognized Ashrafi’s “outstanding work as an ambassador of interfaith harmony in Pakistan” and his long‑standing support for religious minorities, especially the Christian community.
The decision to rescind the honor came after the Archbishop’s office became aware of remarks made by Ashrafi in 2007 that praised the terrorist who orchestrated 9/11, Osama bin Laden. According to the BBC, Ashrafi told reporters that bin Laden had “been fighting for Islam against the Russians, Americans and British” and that he would “give bin Laden the title Saifullah,” meaning “Sword of God.” He said the comments were taken “totally out of context” and called the backlash an “unfair campaign.”
Lambeth Palace released a statement explaining the withdrawal. “It is a longstanding principle of interfaith dialogue and co‑operation that we must engage with one another across deeply‑held differences, and that remains the case,” the statement said. “Previous comments made by Imam Ashrafi have come to light that have led Lambeth Palace to reconsider this award and we can now confirm today that the award has been withdrawn,” it added. “We have contacted Imam Ashrafi to make him aware of this decision.”
The statement also noted that the Church would continue to “pray for the Christian community in Pakistan, and for all those working for interfaith dialogue and harmony in Pakistan and around the world.”
Ashrafi has previously claimed his remarks about bin Laden were made in 2007 in response to “the hurt felt by many Muslims” over the British government’s decision to knight Salman Rushdie, the author of the controversial “Satanic Verses.” He maintains that his comments were misunderstood and that he remains committed to promoting religious tolerance.
The Hubert Walter Award, named after the 12th‑century Archbishop who famously reconciled England’s Christian and Jewish populations, is one of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s most prestigious recognitions for interfaith work. Its sudden revocation underscores the sensitivity with which the Church must handle public statements from its honorees, particularly those that could be construed as supportive of extremist figures.
The decision follows a broader trend of religious leaders reexamining the public records of those they honor, especially after revelations that conflict with the values of peace and tolerance that the awards are meant to celebrate. While the award’s withdrawal has not yet triggered a formal investigation into Ashrafi’s past statements, it does signal a tightening of scrutiny over public endorsements that could inflame sectarian tensions.
Ashrafi’s future role in interfaith circles remains unclear, as the Archbishop’s office has not commented further on whether the cleric will continue to serve as a public figure in Pakistan or elsewhere. The Church’s statement implied that the decision was final, but no definitive statement about a potential re‑evaluation of Ashrafi’s contributions has been issued.
For now, the Archbishop’s office stands by its commitment to dialogue across differences while refusing to endorse or appear to endorse remarks that could be interpreted as praising terrorism.