The Archbishop of Canterbury has rescinded an award presented to a Pakistani Muslim cleric after revelations emerged concerning his past remarks praising Osama bin Laden. The award, given on September 11 to Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, was intended to recognize his work in promoting reconciliation and interfaith cooperation, particularly between religious communities in Pakistan. However, the decision drew significant criticism from political figures, survivors of terrorism, and secular groups.
Ashrafi, chairman of the Pakistan Ulema Council, was initially honored with the Hubert Walter Award for Reconciliation and Interfaith Cooperation during a ceremony at Lambeth Palace marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. The accolade acknowledged his efforts as an ambassador of religious harmony and his opposition to sectarian violence and extremism in Pakistan. At the event, Archbishop Dame Sarah Mullally praised Ashrafi’s longstanding support for religious minorities in Pakistan, including Christian communities, and his commitment to peacebuilding.
The controversy arose from comments Ashrafi made in 2007, when he reportedly expressed the intention to bestow the title "Saifullah" ("Sword of God")—a historical Islamic honorific denoting military skill—on Osama bin Laden. These remarks were made amid protests in Pakistan opposing the British knighthood of novelist Salman Rushdie, author of *The Satanic Verses*, which some Muslims deemed offensive. Ashrafi argued at the time that if the West could honor Rushdie, whom he described as a blasphemer, then a mujahid fighting against foreign powers warranted similar recognition.
Following public backlash, including criticism from figures such as Travis Frain OBE, founder of the Resilience in Unity Project and a survivor of the 2017 Westminster Bridge terror attack, Lambeth Palace issued a statement withdrawing the award. Frain condemned the decision to grant the award on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks as a "grave misjudgment," describing Bin Laden as an "architect of misery" responsible for thousands of deaths. Conservative MP Nick Timothy also criticized the decision as indicative of poor judgment and inadequate vetting.
Lambeth Palace emphasized the importance of interfaith dialogue that engages across deeply held differences but said that the previous comments by Ashrafi necessitated reconsideration of the award. A spokesperson confirmed that Ashrafi had been informed of the withdrawal and noted the continued prayers for those working toward harmony in Pakistan and worldwide.
Ashrafi’s representatives defended him, stating that his 2007 remarks had been taken out of context and that the title was never formally granted to Bin Laden. They highlighted his longstanding record against terrorism and violent extremism and framed his comments as a response to perceived affronts to Muslim sensibilities rather than an endorsement of terrorism.
The incident has sparked debate within the Church of England and beyond about the complexities of interfaith engagement and the challenges in balancing outreach with sensitivity to victims of terrorism. Some members of the church's General Synod acknowledged Ashrafi’s contributions to reconciliation but expressed difficulty reconciling this with his earlier statements.
Ashrafi has previously held roles such as religious harmony envoy to former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and has met with Archbishop Justin Welby to discuss global peace and interfaith cooperation. Despite the award's withdrawal, both Ashrafi and Lambeth Palace reaffirm the ongoing commitment to fostering dialogue among different faith communities.